South Sudan’s ongoing cash crunch has affected its embassy operations in Kenya, with diplomats forced to cut operating hours and shutting down operations for days.
Following the early closure of the embassy this week, Juba denied claims that it was being shut down completely. This followed reports on Tuesday that the embassy had not paid rent for four months.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation only admitted to a temporary technical problem, which it said had affected some of its operations. The EastAfrican is aware that the embassy had suspended consular service.
“The ministry has noted reports by media outlets concerning the operations of the Embassy of South Sudan in Nairobi, Kenya, and claims regarding the alleged closure of other South Sudanese diplomatic missions abroad,” said Apuk Ayuel Mayen, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
“The embassy in Nairobi has not closed. A temporary technical issue affected some of its operations, and the matter is being resolved.”
The Nairobi embassy has previously faced closure over unpaid rent. In November 2025, it was also closed over rent arrears. Earlier, Kenyan staff also alleged they had not been paid for as many as 18 months, and complained that their money had been diverted.
This latest closure comes days after the new ambassador, Simon Juach Deng, bid farewell to President Salva Kiir in Juba on August 6 to report to his new station.
He is expected to take up his post in Nairobi in September.
However, Juba has fought an overall grapevine that most of its embassies abroad are broke and cannot function.
South Sudan has been grappling with a severe fiscal and cash flow crisis, with its economy heavily dependent on oil revenues it cannot export due to war in Sudan.
Some sources suggested Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programmes, Adut Salva Kiir, had dipped in her purse to pay three months’ rent for the embassy earlier this year.
“South Sudan’s diplomatic missions abroad remain operational and continue to discharge their diplomatic functions,” the ministry said.
“The ministry advises the public and the media to rely on official channels for information concerning the operations of South Sudan’s diplomatic missions abroad.”
The revelations came two weeks after South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr James Pitia Morgan, met with Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, in Nairobi.
Juba has been telling all its neighbours that it is ready to hold elections in December despite the cash crunch.
Their discussions also focused on boosting economic diplomacy and completing joint infrastructure projects, specifically the Lokichogio-Nadapal-Juba road corridor, to reduce cargo transit times from the Port of Mombasa.
