Norway has temporarily closed its embassy in Juba, relocating operations to Nairobi as violence escalates in South Sudan.
Credit : Shutterstock, v-a-butenkov
Norway has decided to temporarily shut its embassy in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, due to growing fears about the country’s worsening security.
The announcement came on Wednesday from the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, which said the safety of diplomatic staff could no longer be guaranteed.
Norway relocates embassy operations to Kenya amid South Sudan unrest
For now, Norway’s diplomatic work in South Sudan will be handled from Nairobi, the capital of neighbouring Kenya. The ministry stressed that the closure isn’t permanent and the embassy will reopen when it’s safe to do so.
The move comes as violence intensifies in the Upper Nile region. Just last week, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir removed the state’s governor after fighting broke out between government forces and an ethnic militia allegedly linked to First Vice President Riek Machar. It’s a flare-up that’s sparked real concern.
South Sudan instability raises fears of renewed civil war
It’s been nearly seven years since South Sudan emerged from a civil war that devastated the country and killed hundreds of thousands. Although the 2018 peace agreement brought hope, this latest unrest has reignited fears that the world’s youngest nation could slip back into violence.
Norway has played an active role in supporting peace and development in South Sudan, so the embassy’s closure is seen as a serious sign of how fragile things have become.
The situation is being closely watched, with many wondering if this is just a temporary setback—or the start of something far more worrying.
Find more news about Norway
