In a weekly media briefing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Apuk Ayuel, said the move is aimed at cutting costs and streamlining diplomatic operations amid economic challenges at home.
“In line with the directives of His Excellency President General Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Ministry has undertaken reforms within the diplomatic service,” Apuk said.
“These include the strategic downsizing of diplomatic missions abroad to improve efficiency, align operations with South Sudan’s core interests,” she added.
South Sudan has 32 embassies and one consulate overseas; thus, the foreign affairs department is attempting to cut budget costs.
“We were tasked as a ministry to mainly focus on reducing the financial obligations that come from our missions abroad,” Apuk noted.
“And so, we are not closing missions, but what we are doing is we are reducing staff within some missions. What we are doing is actually reducing the monthly or yearly budget that we are expending by having foreign missions abroad,” she explained
In May 2024, former foreign minister Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah announced a plan to reduce staff at its embassies worldwide due to the economic crisis, foreign minister Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah.
“We have plans, but we can’t implement it unless these people are paid,” Abdallah said. “Let the money of these people be paid and then we can recall them to the country.”
He explained the downsizing would leave most embassies with a skeleton staff – one ambassador and two diplomats.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence in 2011.
Despite its vast oil reserves, the country has been grappling with economic hardship and political instability, including a civil war that erupted in 2013.
Africa’s youngest nation is currently facing the worst financial crisis in its nascent history, characterized by a liquidity crunch, with civil servants going for months without pay.
