JUBA — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has explicitly clarified that there is no national government directive requiring foreign nationals to leave South Sudan.
The clarification follows a regional diplomatic appeal and public debate sparked by Juba County Caretaker Commissioner Kalisto Lado, who instructed foreign traders to step away from small-scale retail markets and focus instead on wholesale and larger investments.
Commissioner Lado Clarifies Stance on Retail and Investment
Addressing concerns following an inspection and cleanup campaign at Kubri Haboba Market, Commissioner Lado dismissed social media reports claiming he had issued a general ultimatum or expulsion order for foreigners to leave the country. He emphasized that evicting foreign nationals falls outside a county commissioner’s mandate.
“The Commissioner has never said that, even not the mandate of the Commissioner to actually evacuate people or to send people out of South Sudan,” Lado stated. “In fact, the South Sudan policy is welcoming. We are welcoming everybody from any country who want to come to be with us in South Sudan, provided that this person is not a criminal.”
Lado explained that his remarks were intended to protect economic opportunities for local citizens—specifically reserving small-scale ventures like selling charcoal, onions, tomatoes, and operating boda-boda motorcycle services for South Sudanese—while encouraging foreign business owners to channel capital into manufacturing, factories, and larger enterprises that generate employment. Furthermore, he noted that ongoing municipal measures focus on clearing garbage, removing obstructions from roadways, and enforcing building standards rather than targeting specific nationalities.
Kampala Appeals via EAC Protocols
The local directives prompted a diplomatic response from neighboring Uganda. Speaking on Ugandan television station NTV, Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda’s Minister of East African Community (EAC) Affairs, appealed to South Sudan to respect the common market protocols of the EAC and handle matters concerning traders transparently through established legal and diplomatic channels.
“We want to appeal to the Republic of South Sudan to take into account the foreign market protocol and treat our people with dignity,” Kadaga said, emphasizing that any administrative measures affecting regional traders must be implemented without discrimination and in alignment with bilateral commitments.
Government Reaffirms Rule of Law
Reiterating its broader national policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that while all commercial operations remain subject to applicable domestic laws and regulations enforced by competent authorities, South Sudan remains fully committed to the rule of law, welcoming legitimate foreign investment, and maintaining constructive diplomatic relations.
