South Sudanese authorities have confirmed on Tuesday,July 08,the arrival and custody of eight men deported from the United States,who landed at Juba International Airport on Saturday.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel,the individuals were transferred through “standard deportation procedures” and are currently being screened by relevant Government bodies to ensure their well-being. Their repatriation followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision,which authorised the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of violent crimes,including one man from South Sudan.
The move has sparked concern among civil society in South Sudan,where prominent activist Edmund Yakani publicly decried the decision,stating,“South Sudan is not a dumping ground for criminals.” The government has yet to disclose the exact location or legal status of the returnees. South Sudan,which has grappled with internal conflict and limited governance capacity since its independence in 2011,remains heavily reliant on foreign aid — a lifeline that has weakened amid recent cuts in U.S. assistance and regional instability.
The economic situation continues to deteriorate as declining oil revenues and disruptions in crude exports,caused by civil war in neighbouring Sudan,further strain the young nation’s recovery. The deportations have not only revived concerns about the country’s ability to reintegrate individuals with complex legal and criminal backgrounds but have also intensified scrutiny of the implications of U.S. foreign policy decisions on vulnerable and fragile states like South Sudan.
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