The South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi was closed on Friday, November 7, after failing to pay several months of rent, according to embassy staff who spoke to Radio Tamazuj.
Located in Kilimani, Nairobi, the embassy has served as South Sudan’s diplomatic mission in Kenya since the country gained independence in 2011. Embassy staff revealed that the monthly rent amounts to approximately Ksh1.2 million (around $9,000), which has remained unpaid for nearly a year.
“The landlord came on Friday and locked the embassy buildings. So the embassy will remain closed until the government in Juba intervenes,” said a staff member, adding that the closure comes amid ongoing financial strains on South Sudan’s foreign missions.
South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya, Anthony Louis Kon, is currently in Juba awaiting instructions from the government. The closure follows a directive from President Salva Kiir in September, instructing embassies and consulates worldwide to reduce staff and cut operational expenses.
“We were directed by His Excellency the President to reduce the financial obligations of our foreign missions, and the ministry is working out how to implement the downsizing plan,” said Apuk Ayuel, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The embassy closure has sparked concern among South Sudanese civil society leaders in Kenya. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), described the situation as “embarrassing” and urged the government to restore operations.
“Kenya is a strategic country for South Sudan, and maintaining a functional and influential diplomatic presence there is critical,” Yakani said.
The embassy has played a key role in facilitating bilateral relations, providing consular services, and supporting South Sudanese nationals living in Kenya. The duration of the closure remains uncertain, pending intervention from the government in Juba.
The incident underscores the financial challenges faced by South Sudan’s foreign missions and raises questions about the government’s ability to sustain its diplomatic operations abroad.
