Germany has temporarily shut down its embassy in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, as escalating violence and political tensions raise fears of a return to civil war in the world’s youngest nation.
The German Foreign Office announced the move on Saturday, citing a rapidly deteriorating security situation. “After years of fragile peace, South Sudan is once again on the brink of civil war,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. “President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar are fueling a spiral of violence and must take responsibility to end the bloodshed and fully implement the peace agreement.”
South Sudan has struggled with stability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. A power-sharing deal in 2018 led to the formation of a transitional government in 2020, with Machar serving as vice president. However, the pact is now under severe strain.
In recent weeks, clashes between government troops and militias aligned with Machar’s Nuer ethnic group have intensified along the border with Ethiopia. Each side blames the other for sparking the conflict, heightening fears of nationwide instability.
Although the violence is currently centered far from Juba, its spread could ignite broader unrest. Some concerns neighboring Sudan’s warring factions might intervene, further complicating the situation.
Germany joins other Western nations — including Canada, the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, the US, and the EU — in offering to mediate between Kiir and Machar in hopes of averting another devastating civil war.
