The Government of South Sudan has apologized to the American Government for the diplomatic row that erupted when the former refused to let in a Congolese deportee from the U.S, and pledged to expeditiously facilitate the deportation of its affected citizens back to South Sudan.
On 6 April, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was revoking visas for South Sudanese passport holders because the country’s transitional government refused to receive citizens who were expelled from the U.S. However, the following day, South Sudan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen revealed that upon arrival, it was determined that the individual who presented a South Sudanese travel document under the name Nimeri Garang is a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) whose real name is Makula Kintu and that he was returned to the sending country (U.S.).
South Sudan, however, backpedaled, under pressure, on its decision not to allow Kintu entry and he again landed in Juba on 9 April after the U.S. revoked visas for South Sudanese passport holders.
A press release issued by Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel on Saturday said the Government of South Sudan wishes to express its respect and appreciation to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their leadership and continued commitment to enforcing U.S. immigration policy.
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused to the United States of America and reiterate our desire to resolve this issue swiftly and in a spirit of cooperation,” the statement read in part.
The Democratic Republic of Congo national, Makula Kintu, who created a diplomatic rift between South Sudan and the United States over his deportation to Juba. (File photo)
In a move to placate the U.S. Government, Vice President Bol dangled a trade carrot.
“President Gen. Salva Kir Mayardit remains committed to maintaining warm, constructive, and positive engagement with the United States across all areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, regional security, oil production, and strategic cooperation on critical minerals,” he said. “South Sudan is proud to stand with the United States as a partner in securing access to strategic resources vital to both South Sudan and the U.S. economies and national security.”
The statement also said the government will dispatch a high-level delegation to Washington, D.C., in the coming days to engage directly with officials from the United States Government on the urgent matter of repatriating approximately 137 South Sudanese nationals currently subject to deportation orders from the United States.
“The South Sudanese delegation will be led by Hon. Marial Dongrin ATER, Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Johnny Ohisa DAMIAN, Governor of the Bank of South Sudan, and Mr. Elia Kosta FAUSTINO, Director General of the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passport and Immigration (DCRNPI),” the statement said. “This delegation will work in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate an orderly, legal, and dignified return process.”
“The Government of the Republic of South Sudan takes full responsibility for addressing this matter with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. Hence, the incident involving Mr. Kintu Makula/Nemeri Garang was regrettable and isolated, and internal measures have since been taken to prevent recurrence of such regrettable incidents,” it added. Radio Tamazuj
President William Ruto hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall. [PCS]
Analysts suggest President Ruto’s visit presents a unique opportunity for Nairobi to leverage the US-China fallout to Kenya’s advantage.
Talks with President Xi Jinping also expected to centre around debt and financing for major infrastructure projects.
President William Ruto is set to embark on a crucial five-day state visit to Beijing, China, commencing Tuesday.
The visit comes as Kenya grapples with mounting economic pressures and as the cash-strapped Kenya Kwanza administration seeks to navigate local economic headwinds but also the turbulent waters of the ongoing US-China trade conflict.
The visit also arrives at a pivotal moment for Ruto’s recently reorganised government, which is heavily indebted to China and urgently requires financial support to stabilise the economy amid mounting pressure from Kenyans. “At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President William Ruto of the Republic of Kenya will pay a state visit to China from April 22 to 26,” confirmed a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson on Thursday, signalling the importance Beijing attaches to this engagement.
President Ruto’s agenda is expected to be dominated by requests for the revival of stalled infrastructure projects, notably the extension of the Chinese-funded Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a critical artery for regional commerce, government insiders told Weekend Business.
Discussions will also focus on securing funding for road network improvements and the expansion of key port and airport facilities, according to Chinese authorities.
However, diplomatic watchers said the visit is not merely about securing loans; it’s also about strategically positioning Kenya in a rapidly shifting global landscape.
The backdrop to the visit is the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing, marked by reciprocal tariffs that have disrupted global supply chains and impacted Kenya’s export-dependent economy.
The Trump administration has not spared its long-time ally Kenya after it imposed a 10 per cent tariff, a decision that has angered Nairobi, insiders said.
The tariffs have since been paused for 90 days, but the situation has reportedly strained relations between Nairobi and Washington, prompting a reassessment of Kenya’s reliance on traditional Western partners, officials said.
Analysts suggested in interviews that President Ruto’s visit presents a unique opportunity for Nairobi to leverage the US-China fallout to Kenya’s advantage.
Instead of solely seeking further loans, Nairobi could push for collaborations that foster local production capacity and technology transfer, boosting jobs and aligning with Beijing’s search for new allies amidst rising trade barriers.
“If you want to sell cars in Kenya, then you need to set up some operation in here, right? So that would generate local employment and also technology build-up,” said Professor Yao Tang of the Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, in an interview.
He highlighted the potential for Kenya to become a regional manufacturing hub, noting that rising production costs in China and excess capacity owing to the Trump tariffs on China could make such arrangements increasingly attractive for Chinese companies.
Shen Shiwei, a research fellow at the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the potential for Kenya to diversify its exports through strategic partnerships with China.
He suggested in a separate interview that Kenya could seek support in “deepening trade in value-added agriculture, textiles, and digital services and boosting investments in manufacturing,” thereby tapping into China’s vast market and supply chains as a hedge against protectionism.
Kinyuru Munuhe, the executive director of Nairobi-based think tank Governance and Diplomacy Associates, underscored the significance of this moment, highlighting China’s growing influence in Africa. He pointed out via email that China’s technological and financial capabilities, coupled with its vast labour resources, create a compelling incentive for African nations like Kenya to strengthen ties.
Beyond infrastructure projects, Kenya could strategically seek Chinese support in establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) focused on manufacturing for both local and regional markets, technology transfer and skills development, and agricultural value addition.
Diversifying financing options through further issuances of Panda bonds is also expected to be on the table, officials said.
President Ruto’s past criticism of Chinese lending practices adds a layer of complexity to the discussions. However, the current economic and geopolitical realities necessitate a pragmatic approach, experts said.
The outcomes of Ruto’s visit will be closely monitored by both Washington and other international actors, keen to understand the evolving dynamics of China-Africa relations.
The visit is a high-stakes balancing act for Ruto, seeking to secure crucial economic support from China while navigating the broader geopolitical landscape, officials said.
The decisions made in Beijing could have far-reaching implications for Kenya’s economic future and its position in the evolving global order, with the world watching closely, they added.
According to Astrid Haas, an Urban economist at the African Development Bank in a recent article in The Conversation, over the past two decades, African leaders have become increasingly drawn to Chinese financing and investment.
“These investments are made rapidly and with reportedly less stringent conditions than traditional financing sources,” wrote Haas.
“Some also suggest that China’s approach aligns more closely with African priorities.”
This sentiment was summarised by the former president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, in 2008: “China’s approach to our needs is simply better adapted than the slow and sometimes patronising post-colonial approach of European investors, donor organisations and non-governmental organisations … China has helped African nations build infrastructure projects in record time.”
African leaders who attended last year’s 8th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing no doubt, wanted to attract more Chinese finance and investment.
The forum aimed to promote diplomacy, trade, security, and investment relations between China and Africa.
According to Haas, since the inaugural summit in 2000, Beijing has committed over $170 billion (Sh21 trillion) in grants and loans to African countries.
“This has included highways, ports, and urban rail. One outcome of these investments has been that they have begun actively shaping the continent’s cities. And the future investment African leaders seek is even more urgently needed to support African cities in becoming more productive, liveable, and sustainable,” wrote Haas.
“The challenges facing cities were the focus of discussions at the inaugural Africa Urban Forum in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.
The event was aimed at helping shape and support inclusive human settlement development.
“Though likely coincidental, the juxtaposition of these events is a reminder that the investment African leaders seek in Beijing is needed for African cities. As an urban economist with a focus on financing public infrastructure and services, I am interested, as part of my research comparing Africa’s and China’s urbanisation experiences, in understanding why Africa has not benefited from Chinese investments and how to change this trend,” wrote Haas in The Conversation article.
“China has influenced Africa’s urbanisation through the Belt and Road Initiative. Launched in 2013, this infrastructure project aims to create a network of economic and trade routes connecting China and the world.
“As of December 2023, 44 of 54 African countries had signed on to the Belt and Road Initiative. It’s estimated that through this initiative, China has invested 2.5 times more in African infrastructure development than all the Western countries combined.” By Brian Ngugi, The Standard
US President Donald Trump Image by: Facebook/White House
US President Donald Trump has said he has no knowledge about the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), but claims that many illegal immigrants in the US come from there, Africanews reports.
He made the comments on Thursday during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House. Trump alleged that prisons in a number of countries, not only in South America but also other continents, had released inmates who were now entering the US.
Apparently referring to the DR Congo, Trump said many individuals are arriving from the African nation, adding, “I don’t know what that is, but they came from the Congo and all over the world they came in.”
The DR Congo is the second-largest country in Africa, with more than 100 million people. The Republic of the Congo borders the DR Congo.
In response, Lesotho’s foreign minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, stated that the government was shocked and offended by the remark. He said it was “quite insulting” and “disappointing” for the leader of a country that maintains a diplomatic mission in Lesotho to speak in such a manner. “I’m really shocked that my country can be referred to like that by the head of state,” Mpotjoane was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Earlier in the month, the US imposed a new set of reciprocal tariffs on imports from nearly 90 countries. A temporary 90-day pause and a reduced 10% tariff were announced later. The new tariffs affected 20 African countries, including Madagascar (47%), South Africa (30%), and the DR Congo (11%). Lesotho was hit with the highest tariff rate of 50%. RT News
JOHANNESBURG - A couple has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a 72-year-old man in Limpopo.
Police said one of the suspects was the victim's daughter, who has been on the run since the murder in March.
According to preliminary investigations, the couple hijacked the victim’s vehicle before kidnapping him in Makubung.
Provincial South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Malesele Ledwaba said they were able to track down the man’s daughter after the arrest of Molatudi Marwale, her boyfriend, who has since appeared in court.
"The investigation led to the arrest of the deceased's daughter, aged 36. The two will appear before Sekhukhune Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 22 April 2025, facing charges of car hijacking, kidnapping, murder and robbery." By Ntokozo Khumalo, EWN
Wan Lixin. Guests from Africa take a trip on the Huangpu River.
Almost 50 African diplomats and leaders from foreign affairs institutes in Africa were treated to an unforgettable cruise along the Huangpu River on Thursday evening, taking in the stunning cityscape.
They took the trip soon after arriving in Shanghai on a bullet train from Beijing. They were in the Chinese capital to attend a seminar on "Building a China-African Community with a Shared Future" at the Foreign Affairs University.
Although the daytime temperature in Shanghai was unusually high for the season, the cruise along the river in the balmy night breeze was pleasant. No sooner had the cruise departed than the guests were busy finding the best angle for a shot of the glittering skyscrapers in Pudong and the iconic architectural gems on the Bund on the other side.
"I've heard a lot about China, but this is the first time I've seen it for myself, and I think it's fantastic, and I'm sharing it with a friend," said Mamadou Ballo, Department Chief of the Directorate of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Mali.
"I am really surprised to see how green the cities are. We've seen green everywhere," he added.
Last September, at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, it was announced that the China-Mali relationship had been elevated to a strategic partnership, with Chinese companies encouraged to invest in Mali, particularly in agriculture, energy, mineral development, infrastructure construction, and other areas.
Isabel Eraul Iuina was so pleased by the sparkling night view that she urged me to congratulate the Shanghai mayor on conjuring up this magical image. She had previously served as mayor of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea's capital, from 2004 to 2009. Iuina is now the chairwoman of the parliament's foreign policy committee.
Wan Lixin
Isabel Eraul Iuina, a senior member of the parliament of Equatorial Guinea, on the cruise
China's partnership with Equatorial Guinea is being hailed as a model for South-South cooperation, with experts pointing to the mutually beneficial nature of the relationship.
While China's current cooperation with Equatorial Guinea mainly focuses on infrastructure, technological cooperation, and other related areas, in the future, China will work toward promoting industrialization in Equatorial Guinea, as the resource-rich country is in urgent need of diversifying its economic development and industrialization.
The envoys also visited the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai.
On Friday afternoon, they visited Donghua University and talked to professors and students. By Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux
Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.
To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854. If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.
We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.
