In an open letter to the president, Makhor acknowledged South Sudan’s role as a committed member of the United Nations and its moral duty to contribute to global peace and humanitarian efforts. He commended the proposal to host Palestinians as a reflection of the country’s values of solidarity and international cooperation.
However, the legislator cautioned against taking on such a responsibility while South Sudan continues to grapple with severe humanitarian and security challenges at home.
“South Sudan is still struggling to resettle and provide for a significant number of our own internally displaced persons, many of whom lack adequate shelter, food security, and protection,” Makhor wrote. “If we are not yet able to meet the fundamental needs of our own citizens, it would be prudent to carefully assess our readiness before committing to such a responsibility.”
Makhor also cited “credible reports” of territorial encroachment by Uganda in parts of Central Equatoria, arguing that unresolved border security issues further complicate the prospect of hosting large numbers of foreign refugees.
While stressing that his position was not an outright rejection of South Sudan’s humanitarian obligations, the Uror County representative called for a prioritisation strategy—stabilising and strengthening the country internally before expanding its commitments abroad.
He proposed that South Sudan could still demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian people through non-residential support such as diplomatic advocacy, humanitarian fundraising, and working with international aid agencies to channel assistance directly to Gaza.
“This is not a rejection of our humanitarian obligations but rather a call for us to act from a position of capacity and resilience,” Makhor emphasised.
