South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi Closed Over Unpaid Rent

The Kilimani mission has suspended operations, disrupting consular services for South Sudanese citizens in Kenya.The South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi has been closed after the government failed to pay rent for four months, disrupting diplomatic and consular services at its premises on Lenana Road. The embassy was closed on Tuesday, August 11, with visitors unable to access the mission. The latest shutdown has raised fresh concerns over the financial difficulties affecting South Sudan's diplomatic missions abroad. The exact amount owed to the landlord has not been established. However, the closure follows months of unpaid rent, with the landlord reportedly taking action after the arrears accumulated. The latest incident is not the first time the South Sudanese mission in Nairobi has faced a rental dispute. The embassy was also closed in November 2025 after falling behind on rent payments. The earlier closure was eventually resolved and the mission resumed operations. The recurrence of the dispute has now disrupted services for South Sudanese nationals who rely on the embassy for official documents and other consular assistance. One South Sudanese citizen who visited the mission to process travel documents said he found the premises closed and was turned away by security personnel. He said he was not given a clear explanation for the shutdown. The closure affects a mission that provides services to a sizeable South Sudanese community in Kenya. Among the services offered by diplomatic missions are assistance with travel documents, consular matters and other official documentation. South Sudan's foreign missions have faced financial pressure as the government contends with broader economic difficulties. The country's public finances remain heavily dependent on oil revenues, exposing government income to fluctuations in production and prices. The financial strain has previously affected diplomatic missions, including concerns over rent, salaries and other operating expenses. South Sudan has also taken measures aimed at reducing the cost of maintaining its overseas representations. The Nairobi closure comes as South Sudan prepares for a change in its diplomatic representation in Kenya. Newly appointed Ambassador Simon Juach Deng bid farewell to President Salva Kiir in Juba on August 6 and is expected to take up his posting in Nairobi in September. South Sudanese civil society leader Edmund Yakani has described the closure of the mission as damaging to the country's image and diplomatic interests. He has called for adequate financing of foreign missions. The Nairobi mission is particularly important given Kenya's close political, economic and people-to-people ties with South Sudan. Nairobi also serves as an important regional centre for South Sudanese citizens, businesses and organisations. The latest closure leaves citizens seeking consular assistance waiting for operations to resume. No reopening date had been announced as of Wednesday, August 12, while the rental dispute remains unresolved. The incident also puts renewed attention on the cost of maintaining diplomatic premises abroad, particularly as South Sudan continues to manage financial pressures affecting government operations.