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 last week, landed at Juba International Airport on Wednesday.
The Government of South Sudan initially rejected Kintu’s entry, who they said was impersonating a person named Nimeri Garang.
Speaking to the media in Juba on Wednesday, Amb. Apuk Ayuel Mayen, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said Kintu arrived in Juba at 1:30 p.m. and was received by Immigration officials and diplomatic staff from the U.S. Embassy in Juba.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan wishes to formally announce that Mr. Makula Kintu arrived at Juba International Airport at 1:30 p.m. on April 9, 2025,” said Ayuel. “Mr. Kintu was received by the Director General of Immigration, the director of Consular Services, and the American and Caribbean departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and American Embassy officials were also present during Mr. Kintu’s reception.”
The controversy started when Kintu arrived at Juba International Airport on April 5 and 6 and presented a South Sudanese Travel Document under the name Nimeri Garang. Authorities investigated and identified him as Makula Kintu. They claim he is a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo born on April 2, 1977. Immigration staff said their “comprehensive verification processes” confirmed his Congolese nationality.
During his immigration interview in Juba, Kintu reportedly identified himself as a member of the Ema tribe from North Kivu province in the DRC. He also claimed someone had forcibly sent him to South Sudan.
Juba officials say they shared video evidence of this interview with US representatives. They sent it to the US Ambassador in Juba and the US State Department in Washington.