South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that its embassy in Nairobi had not closed, describing an unspecified technical issue as having temporarily disrupted some of its operations.
The statement came a day after Radio Tamazuj reported that the embassy had closed its doors, with staff and visitors saying services had been disrupted. The staff members attributed the closure to unpaid rent arrears.
“The Embassy in Nairobi has not closed. A temporary technical issue affected some of its operations, and the matter is being resolved,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement dated Aug. 13.
The ministry did not specify the nature of the technical problem, which services had been affected or when normal operations would resume.
It also rejected reports that other South Sudanese embassies abroad had closed, saying the country’s diplomatic missions remain operational and continue to discharge their functions.
The ministry’s statement did not address the reports of unpaid rent at the Nairobi mission.
According to staff members, the embassy, located in Nairobi’s Kilimani neighbourhood, was closed on Tuesday, Aug. 11. They said the government was about four months behind on rent payments, although the amount owed could not immediately be independently verified.
A South Sudanese citizen who identified himself as Stephen said he went to the embassy to process travel documents but was turned away by security guards on Wednesday.
The Nairobi embassy has previously faced disruption over unpaid rent. In November 2025, it was also closed after falling behind on rental payments.
Reports also said Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programmes Adut Salva Kiir paid three months of rent for the embassy earlier this year.
South Sudan has faced mounting fiscal pressures and cash shortages in recent years, with its economy heavily dependent on oil revenues. The financial strain has affected the government’s ability to meet some domestic and external obligations.
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