The South Sudanese government is taking steps to address the situation of its citizens in Egypt and expand humanitarian return programs.

Written by Amna Hassan

The South Sudanese government discussed ways to enhance support for its citizens residing in the Arab Republic of Egypt, in light of the humanitarian and economic challenges facing a segment of the community, particularly those who were forced to go to Egypt due to the repercussions of the war in Sudan.

This came during a meeting between the South Sudanese Ambassador to Egypt, Kual Nyok Kual Arop, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Albino Akol Atak, where the two sides reviewed the situation of South Sudanese citizens residing in Egypt, and discussed mechanisms to enhance consular protection and develop the government’s response to their needs.

Issues affecting members of the community

Ambassador Kual Nyok Kual Arop explained that the embassy is continuously monitoring issues affecting members of the community, noting that the most prominent challenges include cases of detention and deportation, difficulty in obtaining job opportunities, in addition to the humanitarian conditions faced by citizens who arrived in Egypt fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The Ambassador also briefed the Embassy on its efforts to register citizens wishing to voluntarily return to South Sudan, in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the aim of expanding the voluntary humanitarian return program and increasing the number of beneficiaries, in order to ensure a safe, organized and dignified return for those who wish to do so.

For his part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management affirmed the government’s commitment to continuing to support its citizens abroad, noting that the ministry is working in coordination with humanitarian partners and donors to mobilize the necessary resources to facilitate a safe and dignified voluntary return, and to provide the required support to returnees.

The minister revealed that he recently discussed this issue with the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to South Sudan, within the framework of joint coordination between the two countries, noting that the government is considering carrying out an official visit to Egypt to see firsthand the conditions of South Sudanese citizens and assess their humanitarian and service needs.

This move comes as part of the South Sudanese government’s efforts to enhance the care of its citizens abroad and intensify cooperation with partner countries and international organizations to find sustainable humanitarian solutions to the challenges facing members of the community, particularly those affected by the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war in Sudan.