September 1st 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The government of the neighboring Kenya have decided to release hundreds of South Sudanese nationals arrested by its police over the last two weeks following a crackdown on foreigners working illegally in the country.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a notice letter that that it has reached an agreement with the South Sudan Embassy in Nairobi to release all the detained South Sudanese expatriates and that the Embassy wilol facilitate for their documentation.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya presents its compliments to the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan and has the honour to inform that the Government of Kenya agrees with the esteemed Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan on an arrangement that would facilitate expeditious release from custody of South Sudan nationals who have been caught up in the current operation to weed out undocumented immigrants,” the Ministry said in a statement seen by the Nyamilepedia.
Under the new pact between the ministry and the South Sudan Embassy, the South Sudan diplomatic representation will provide identification for the undocumented South Sudanese and will need to deposit them at the place where the detention is taking place.
“Under this arrangement, the Embassy of South Sudan will issue identification documents to all affected South Sudanese as proof of nationality and deposit copies of such identification dowments at the Police Station where the South Sudan nationals are being held as well as at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Department for interior,” further said the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On Saturday morning, the Amnesty International issued a statement and condemned the move, saying the crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the east African country would risk triggering xenophobia in the country.