CAIRO – South Sudanese nationals in Egypt are facing a growing wave of arrests and detentions linked to residency and legal status issues, prompting South Sudan’s embassy in Cairo to pledge intensified efforts to assist affected citizens and seek solutions with Egyptian authorities.
The commitment was made during a meeting on Monday between South Sudan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Kuol Nyok Kuol Arop, embassy officials and representatives of the South Sudanese community led by Santino Akot Deng.
According to a statement from the embassy, discussions centered on the increasing number of South Sudanese nationals being detained for lacking valid residency permits, as well as difficulties faced by those who entered Egypt after fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan.
“The meeting focused on issues of concern to South Sudanese citizens residing in Egypt, particularly the increasing number of citizens detained due to the absence of valid residency permits, as well as the challenges faced by those who entered Egypt during the period of conflict in Sudan,” the embassy said.
Ambassador Kuol said the mission has been engaging Egyptian authorities, officials in Juba and the UN refugee agency to address the situation. He added that embassy interventions had helped secure the release of several detained South Sudanese students and other citizens.
The ambassador also pledged continued support for citizens facing legal difficulties and said discussions were underway on voluntary repatriation for South Sudanese wishing to return home.
“The relevant authorities in Juba had already been engaged to explore possible arrangements and provide support for citizens wishing to return voluntarily to their homeland,” the statement said.
Community leader Santino Akot Deng urged South Sudanese living in Egypt to comply with local laws and ensure their residency documents remain valid.
The meeting further appealed to the Government of South Sudan to support citizens seeking to return home and called on the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to expand voluntary return flights.
However, the embassy’s assurances sparked mixed reactions from members of the South Sudanese community.
A South Sudanese citizen identified as Toni accused embassy officials of failing to adequately address the hardships facing nationals in Egypt.
“Ambassador, you’re sleeping. Hundreds of your citizens are suffering here while embassy officials are enjoying life,” he wrote in an online response to the meeting.
Toni urged the ambassador to take stronger action or step aside for someone capable of addressing the community’s concerns.
Others welcomed the embassy’s engagement. Garang Bhut Bhut expressed confidence in both the ambassador and community leaders, saying he hoped the discussions would translate into practical support for vulnerable South Sudanese citizens.
Alier Samuel Lueth described the statement as one of the most responsive public communications issued by the embassy in recent years.
Beyond detention concerns, some citizens raised complaints about embassy services. Philip Bedping Thomas Marco, who said he travelled to Egypt for medical treatment, alleged poor customer service and difficulties accessing assistance despite possessing valid documents.
Another community member, Geyne Ajack, called for improved relations between embassy staff and citizens and urged a review of some administrative charges.
In response, the embassy defended its record, citing regular visits by consular officials to detention centres and prisons, which it said had contributed to the release of several South Sudanese nationals.
The mission said it would continue working with Egyptian and South Sudanese authorities to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing South Sudanese citizens in Egypt.
