The Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Kenya has been shut down after months of unpaid rent, leaving diplomatic operations in Nairobi at a standstill.

According to some of the embassy staff members who spoke to Radio Tamazuj, the landlord locked the premises on Friday, November 7, following delayed rent payments.

“The landlord came on Friday and locked the embassy buildings. So the embassy will remain closed until the government in Juba intervenes,” one staff member confirmed.

Officials disclosed that the embassy, located in Kilimani, Nairobi, has not paid rent for nearly a year.

The monthly rent is estimated at between Ksh1.2 million and Ksh1.4 million (about $9,000).

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Ambassador Awaits Direction as Embassy Operations Stall

Reports indicate that South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya, Anthony Louis Kon, is currently in Juba, awaiting instructions from his government on the way forward.

The embassy, which has been operational since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, now faces an uncertain future as diplomatic staff remain stranded.

The closure highlights the growing financial strain within South Sudan’s foreign missions, with several embassies reportedly struggling to meet operational costs.

Government’s Cost-Cutting Directive Under Scrutiny

The embassy’s shutdown comes barely two months after President Salva Kiir ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to downsize diplomatic staff and reduce operational expenses in foreign missions.

“We were directed by His Excellency the President to reduce the financial obligations of our foreign missions, and the ministry is working out how to do that and will begin implementing the downsizing plan,” said Apuk Ayuel, the ministry’s spokesperson.

Although Ayuel could not be reached for fresh comment, the September directive was intended to ease the country’s financial burden amid a worsening economic crisis.

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Civil Society Calls Closure “Embarrassing and Disturbing”

South Sudanese civil society leaders have condemned the embassy’s closure, describing it as a national embarrassment that undermines the country’s diplomatic standing.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), termed the incident “disturbing, discouraging, and embarrassing,” stressing the importance of restoring operations immediately.

“The status of our embassy’s rental fee is alarming. Kenya is a strategic country for South Sudan, and maintaining a functional and influential diplomatic presence there is critical,” Yakani stated.

He called on President Kiir and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to act urgently, saying the situation reflects poorly on South Sudan’s international reputation at a time when “the country’s political uncertainty demands active regional diplomacy.”

Economic Strain Deepens Amid Diplomatic Fallout

South Sudan’s persistent economic troubles continue to affect its international relations.

The country, which relies on oil for over 90 per cent of its revenue, is still reeling from the effects of civil conflict, corruption, and weak governance.

The financial challenges have reportedly left many diplomats unpaid for months, crippling foreign operations and sparking fears of further closures.

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A Building With A South Sudanese Flag On It. PHOTO/ Courtesy.