Germany says will close embassy in South Sudan

Germany will temporarily close its embassy in South Sudan’s capital Juba amid fears of renewed civil war, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Saturday,

“After years of fragile peace, South Sudan is once again on the brink of civil war. We decided this week to temporarily close our embassy in Juba due to the current situation. The safety of our colleagues is the top priority,” she said on X.

Baerbock accused South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar “of plunging the country into a spiral of violence”.

“It is their responsibility to put an end to the senseless violence and finally implement the peace agreement,” Baerbock added.

On Tuesday, the embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union delegation offered their mediation to “maintain peace” in South Sudan.

The German foreign ministry for years has discouraged travel to South Sudan.