Norway joins Germany, shuts embassy in conflict-torn African nation

The embassy closure by the government of Norway comes as tensions between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar continue to rise, with clashes between government forces and Nuer militia groups intensifying.

Norway’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it was shutting its embassy in Juba due to the deteriorating security situation.

In a separate statement, the ministry advised Norwegian nationals to avoid travel to South Sudan and urged those already in the country to leave.

Norway’s embassy in Nairobi will oversee diplomatic affairs related to South Sudan until further notice.

This decision follows a similar move by Germany, which recently closed its embassy in Juba.

In a post on X, the German Foreign Ministry warned that after years of fragile peace, South Sudan is once again on the brink of civil war

German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock stated that the decision was made by the Foreign Office’s crisis team, prioritizing the safety of embassy staff..

South Sudan, which has faced instability since gaining independence in 2011, is once again experiencing violent conflict, particularly along its border with Ethiopia, where Vice President Riek Machar’s supporters are engaged in fighting.

The renewed crisis stems from the failure of a power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and Machar, raising fears of another civil war and sparking widespread clashes.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where the United States has begun evacuating non-essential personnel, while the United Nations has issued warnings about the country’s stability.

Diplomatic representatives from Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, the US, and the EU have stepped in, offering to mediate between Kiir and Machar in an effort to prevent further escalation.

Nicholas Haysom, head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), described the situation as “dire.”

He stressed that meaningful peace negotiations would only be possible if Kiir and Machar prioritized the interests of their people over their own political ambitions.