South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi Shut Down Over Four Months of Unpaid Rent

The South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi has been closed after the government reportedly failed to pay rent for four months, disrupting consular services for South Sudanese living in Kenya.

The embassy, located in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, was reportedly closed on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. An embassy staff member told Radio Tamazuj that the mission would remain closed until the South Sudanese government addresses the outstanding rent.

The closure has already affected South Sudanese seeking services at the embassy. One citizen who visited the mission to process travel documents said security guards turned him away after finding the premises closed.

The disruption means South Sudanese nationals in Kenya may experience difficulties accessing services such as travel documents and other consular assistance normally provided by the diplomatic mission.

This is not the first time the embassy has faced problems linked to unpaid rent. In November 2025, the Nairobi mission was also reportedly closed over rent arrears before operations resumed after the dispute was addressed.

Earlier this year, reports indicated that Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programmes Adut Salva Kiir had paid three months of rent for the embassy. The latest closure, however, suggests that the financial difficulties have continued.

South Sudanese civil society leader Edmund Yakani described the latest closure as damaging to the country's image and diplomatic interests. He called on the government to prioritise funding for its foreign missions.

The development comes as South Sudan faces serious financial challenges, with its economy heavily dependent on oil revenues. These difficulties have affected government operations and the ability to meet expenses at some overseas missions.

The Nairobi embassy is also preparing for a change in leadership. Newly appointed Ambassador Simon Juach Deng recently bid farewell to President Salva Kiir and is expected to take up his new post in Nairobi in September.

For now, South Sudanese living in Kenya face uncertainty over when normal embassy services will resume as the government works to address the outstanding financial obligations.