NAIROBI, Kenya – The South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi has been shut down after its landlord locked the premises over four months of unpaid rent, disrupting diplomatic and consular services for South Sudanese citizens in Kenya.
The embassy, located at Senteu Plaza along Galana Road in Kilimani, was closed on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after the landlord reportedly moved to recover outstanding rent following repeated attempts to secure payment.
The closure has left the embassy unable to provide its normal services, including passport-related assistance, visa processing and other consular support.
The landlord reportedly seized the keys to the offices after efforts to recover the outstanding payments failed, effectively bringing operations at the diplomatic mission to a halt.
The closure has affected South Sudanese nationals who depend on the embassy for essential documentation and consular services. Citizens seeking passport renewals, visas and other forms of assistance have reportedly been unable to access the offices since the shutdown.
The situation has also raised concerns among South Sudanese students, travelers and other nationals who may require urgent assistance from their country’s diplomatic mission.
The embassy has not been able to resume normal operations pending intervention by the South Sudanese government and settlement of the outstanding rent.
The mission ordinarily serves as a link between South Sudanese citizens in Kenya and their government, providing documentation and other services while also handling diplomatic relations between Nairobi and Juba.
The latest shutdown also comes at a sensitive time for the diplomatic mission, with South Sudan preparing for a leadership transition at its Nairobi embassy.
The rent dispute emerged just days after Simon Juach Deng, South Sudan’s newly appointed ambassador to Kenya, met President Salva Kiir Mayardit ahead of his expected arrival in Nairobi.
Deng is expected to assume his new diplomatic responsibilities in September 2026. His appointment comes as the embassy deals with the financial difficulties that have now resulted in the closure of its offices.
The latest incident is not the first time the South Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi has faced closure over unpaid bills. The mission experienced a similar shutdown in late 2025 after its landlord reportedly locked the premises over unpaid rent.
The embassy eventually reopened after the outstanding dispute was addressed and funding was made available. The recurrence of the problem has renewed questions about the financial management of South Sudan’s diplomatic missions abroad.
