After accepting US deportees, South Sudan wanted sanctions relief for top official, documents show

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by By JOSEPH FALZETTAJanuary 24, 2026 at 10:23 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

After agreeing to accept deportees from the U.S. in 2023, South Sudan requested American support for prosecuting an opposition leader and sanctions relief for a senior official accused of corruption. The requests were revealed in diplomatic communications made public by the State Department. South Sudan became the first African nation to accept third-country deportees from the U.S., including nationals from Mexico, Cuba, Vietnam, and other countries. The deportees arrived in Juba after being held at a U.S. military base in Djibouti. While one deportee was repatriated to Mexico and another was freed, the long-term plan for the remaining individuals remains unclear. The details of the agreement between the U.S. and South Sudan are murky, and it is unknown if South Sudan received any of its requests.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Human Rights Watch 30% Djibouti 30% Rwanda ×240% Dian Peter Domach 40% Mexico ×250% State Department 50% Juba ×360% Jesus Munoz Gutierrez 70% United States ×780% South Sudan ×1190%

Keywords

deportation 100% south sudan 90% sanctions relief 80% united states 70% third-country deportees 60% diplomatic communications 60% human rights 50% public funds 40%