Embassy Closure in Kenya Leaves Citizens Stranded

(NAIROBI) – The South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi has been closed after nearly a year of unpaid rent, according to staff and media reports.

The office located at Senteu Plaza in Kilimani was locked by the landlord on 7 November 2025. The closure has stopped services for South Sudanese citizens living in or travelling through Kenya.

The embassy had been paying $9,000 per month, which is approximately 63,900,000 SSP at the November 2025 market exchange rate of 1 USD to 7,100 SSP.

Staff say payments were not made for nearly 12 months, forcing senior diplomats, including Ambassador Anthony Louis Kon, to return to Juba. Embassy operations could remain suspended until the government settles the outstanding rent.

Civil society leaders in Juba described the closure as worrying. Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, said the situation harms South Sudan’s diplomatic image and its engagement with Kenya, a key political and trade partner. He called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President to act swiftly.

The closure follows instructions from President Salva Kiir to reduce staff and operating costs at South Sudan’s foreign missions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is planning further cost reductions in embassies and consulates worldwide.

The embassy shutdown has left many South Sudanese without essential consular services, including passport renewals, emergency travel documents, visa support and legal certifications for study and employment.

In a related development, nine Kenyan nationals working at the embassy have filed a lawsuit claiming unpaid salaries totaling $320,195 (≈ 1.47 billion SSP) over 53 months. The employees include security, immigration and foreign affairs staff. They say they were never given written contracts and have not been paid consistently since 2016.

Lawyer Nicodemus Ouma representing the workers cited a 2020 Kenyan court ruling limiting diplomatic immunity in labour disputes. The case could set an important precedent for employment rights in diplomatic missions.

South Sudan’s government has faced recurring salary arrears over the years. Between 2016 and 2025, civil servants, diplomats, MPs and military personnel have frequently waited months for wages, often due to disruptions in oil revenue and regional security issues.

Observers from civil society have warned that financial mismanagement and delays in paying diplomatic staff could weaken South Sudan’s foreign relations and investor confidence at a time when the country is seeking to rebuild its international credibility.

Students in the diaspora have urged prioritisation of embassy operations to maintain trade, regional cooperation and the country’s image abroad.