South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Dismisses Foreign Affairs Minister

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, has relieved Ramadan Abdallah Goc from his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, nearly a year following his appointment.

The announcement was made via a presidential decree broadcast on Wednesday evening by the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC). President Kiir has appointed Monday Semaya Kumba as the new foreign minister.

While the president did not disclose the reasons behind this decision, it marks a significant shift in the country’s foreign policy leadership.

Before his new role, Semaya Kumba served as the deputy foreign minister, and had previously held the position of South Sudan’s ambassador to China. He was elevated to deputy foreign minister in April 2024.

This change in leadership comes on the heels of a diplomatic incident that unfolded just a day prior, which saw the South Sudanese government allow a foreign national entry into the country after initially refusing him. The switch in policy appears to be a response to external pressures, particularly following the United States’ decision to revoke visas for all South Sudanese citizens.

Makula Kintu, a Congolese national, was permitted entry into South Sudan “in the spirit of maintaining friendly relations” between the two nations, as noted by foreign ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen.

Last Friday, South Sudanese officials denied entry to Kintu, who had been deported from the United States, citing his alleged illegal use of travel documents that belonged to South Sudanese national Nimeri Garang.

Following this incident, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that all visas for South Sudanese citizens would be revoked, referencing South Sudan’s failure to promptly accept the return of its deported citizens from the U.S.