BERLIN — The German government has announced a temporary closure of its embassy in South Sudan due to escalating tensions in the region. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed concerns about the country’s deteriorating situation on social media platform Bluesky, highlighting a possible return to civil war after a period of fragile peace.
The decision to shutter the embassy in Juba was made by the German Foreign Office’s crisis team, emphasizing that employee safety is a top priority. Baerbock criticized South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar for exacerbating the country’s violent spiral, urging them to halt the violence and fulfill the peace agreement obligations.
Since its independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has struggled with ongoing political turmoil and conflict. A peace accord put an end to a devastating five-year civil war in 2018, during which over 400,000 people lost their lives. This agreement led to Machar becoming the first vice president within a national unity government, despite ongoing opposition to President Kiir from Machar’s political faction.
The persistent political rivalry between Kiir and Machar remains a critical impediment to lasting peace in South Sudan. While Kiir is wary of Machar’s ambitions, Machar frequently accuses Kiir of authoritarian tendencies, fueling continuing instability in the region.
