Canada’s foreign ministry says it is “temporarily” ceasing its mission in South Sudan.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) noted that responsibility for consular services was transferred to its mission in Ethiopia on July 13.
The Canadian embassy in Juba told Radio Tamazuj recently that the suspension of operations followed a decision by Global Affairs Canada.
“As part of its regular operations, Global Affairs Canada periodically reviews and adjusts Canada’s diplomatic footprint based on a range of factors, including foreign policy objectives, cost considerations, and security conditions,” the embassy said.
According to the embassy, responsibilities for maintaining diplomatic relations with South Sudan will transfer to the Embassy of Canada to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Joanne Minns, Canada’s most recent ambassador to South Sudan, met President Salva Kiir on July 23 to bid farewell after her tenure in South Sudan came to an end.
She was named as Canada’s next ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a June 30 press release, which noted that she will take up the posting in the “coming weeks.”
South Sudan’s foreign ministry did not respond to several requests for comment from Radio Tamazuj.
South Sudan joins neighbouring Sudan as the two East African nations where Canada has suspended operations at its embassies.
In 2024-25, South Sudan was the 10th-highest destination for Canadian international assistance, being earmarked $91 million in bilateral aid and $23 million in multilateral assistance. The 2025 budget pledged to cut Canada’s foreign aid contribution by $2.7 billion over four years.
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