By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has removed the country’s Foreign Minister, Ramadan Mohamed, replacing him with his deputy, Monday Simaya Kumba, according to state media reports, a development that comes after a migration dispute with the United States.
The announcement of Mohamed’s dismissal came late on Wednesday, though it is unclear whether his removal is directly related to the frosty relations with the US.
Juba had entered into a row with Washington following the refusal of Kiir’s administration to admit a Congolese national deported from the United States.
In response, US President Donald Trump’s administration threatened to revoke all US visas held by South Sudanese citizens.
South Sudan yielded to Washington’s demands on Tuesday and allowed the man to enter the country.
The Congolese national, Makula Kintu, was accepted into the country “in the spirit of maintaining friendly relations” between South Sudan and the US, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen said.
Last Friday, South Sudanese officials had refused entry to Kintu, who had been deported from the United States, accusing him of illegally using travel documents belonging to South Sudanese national Nimeri Garang.
The following day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the US would revoke all visas for South Sudanese citizens, citing the country’s failure to accept the return of its citizens deported from the United States “in a timely manner.”
