Bankrupt South Sudan Faces Lawsuits in Kenya Over Unpaid Diplomatic Staff Salaries
By Lual Matthew | July 7, 2025
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is once again in the spotlight, not for its oil reserves or peace negotiations, but for a growing diplomatic scandal that has spilled into Kenyan courts. A group of Kenyan nationals employed at the South Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi has filed a lawsuit over unpaid salaries, highlighting the deepening financial crisis in Juba and raising questions about the country’s diplomatic credibility.
Nine Kenyan employees have taken legal action against the South Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi, seeking over $300,000 in unpaid wages that span more than four years. These workers, who have served in various roles ranging from administrative support to security, claim they have not received consistent salaries since early 2016. Some months were skipped entirely, while others saw only partial payments.
The plaintiffs argue that the situation has become “unbearable,” especially as they continue to support families amid Kenya’s rising cost of living. “We have been patient for years, but enough is enough,” said one of the employees, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation.
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader pattern of financial mismanagement and neglect within South Sudan’s foreign missions. Reports from other embassies, including those in Washington, D.C., and Addis Ababa, have also surfaced, citing months of unpaid wages and deteriorating working conditions.
The South Sudanese government, heavily reliant on oil revenues, has struggled to maintain basic services amid internal conflict, corruption, and economic instability. The country’s foreign reserves have dwindled, and inflation has eroded the value of the South Sudanese pound, making it increasingly difficult to meet international obligations.
In a statement issued on July 6, the South Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi acknowledged the delays in salary payments, affecting both Kenyan and South Sudanese staff. The Embassy noted that the new head of mission had met with a legal representative of the affected employees on July 3 to discuss possible solutions.
However, the Embassy expressed surprise that details of the meeting were leaked to the media, suggesting that the matter was still under internal review. While the Embassy praised the long-serving Kenyan staff, some of whom have worked with South Sudan since before its independence in 2011, it stopped short of offering a concrete timeline for payment.
The lawsuit has sparked diplomatic tension between Kenya and South Sudan. While Nairobi has not issued an official statement, legal experts warn that the case could set a precedent for how foreign missions are held accountable under host country labor laws.
“This is not just a labor issue; it’s a governance issue,” said Nicodemus Ouma, a Nairobi-based legal analyst. “You cannot build foreign relations on the backs of unpaid, exploited workers”.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations offers certain immunities to embassies and their staff, but it does not exempt them from adhering to local labor laws, especially when employing host country nationals. If the Kenyan courts rule in favor of the plaintiffs, South Sudan could face asset seizures or other enforcement actions within Kenya.
Beyond the legal and diplomatic ramifications lies a deeper, more troubling reality: the human cost of South Sudan’s economic collapse. Public servants across the country, including teachers, doctors, and police officers, have gone months without pay. Many have resorted to side hustles or fled the country in search of better opportunities.
A 2024 report by PaanLuel Wël Media highlighted the dire consequences of delayed salaries in South Sudan. Families are being evicted, children are dropping out of school, and public servants are being jailed for unpaid debts. The situation is so severe that some youth are falling prey to human traffickers as they attempt to migrate to Europe or the Middle East.
At the heart of this crisis is a failure of leadership. Despite repeated promises to reform the public sector and improve fiscal discipline, the South Sudanese government continues to prioritize political patronage over public service. Oil revenues, which account for over 90% of the national budget, are often mismanaged or siphoned off through corruption.
The Revitalized Government of National Unity, formed under the 2018 peace agreement, has struggled to implement meaningful reforms. Key institutions remain underfunded, and transparency is virtually nonexistent. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for funding embassies abroad, has offered little explanation for the delays.
The Nairobi lawsuit could be a turning point. If successful, it may embolden other embassy staff both in Kenya and elsewhere to seek legal redress. It could also pressure the South Sudanese government to prioritize diplomatic staff salaries and restore its international reputation.
For Kenya, the case underscores the importance of protecting its citizens working in foreign missions. It also raises questions about how host countries should respond when diplomatic partners fail to uphold basic labor standards.
The lawsuit against the South Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi is more than a legal dispute, it is a wake-up call. It exposes the fragility of South Sudan’s state institutions and the urgent need for reform. As the country is marking 14th Anniversary of independence, its leaders must confront the reality that sovereignty comes with responsibility, not just to the international community, but to the citizens and workers who keep the state running.
Until then, the unpaid staff in Nairobi and countless others across the globe will continue to bear the burden of a bankrupt state.
