Foreign workers in South Sudan can stay after all

South Sudan Wednesday evening rescinded its controversial order to eject foreign workers after intense lobbying by diplomats in Juba.

Kenya’s ambassador to South Sudan Cleland Leshore confirmed to the Nation that the order, which had been heavily criticised, had been overturned.

“I have just spoken with the minister for Foreign Affairs (Marial Benjamin) and he has confirmed to me that the order to expel foreigners working in South Sudan has been rescinded,” said Mr Leshore.

Earlier in the day, diplomats from various countries met in the capital Juba to discuss the matter after which they requested to meet the Foreign Affairs minister.

According to Mr Leshore, the envoys, drawn from African embassies and beyond, are expected to meet Dr Benjamin Thursday morning to discuss the matter further.

The withdrawal of the order means Juba has backtracked on  the issue three times in under three years. Two previous decisions to eject foreign workers in favour of locals were equally called off after criticism from the international community.

The South Sudanese Government had earlier issued a “clarification”, insisting that no foreign workers would be expelled. It said it was vouching for South Sudanese people to be given jobs where they qualified.

A senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi confirmed the development, saying Juba had rescinded its decision following “hue and cry” from those that would have been affected.

Juba’s foreign ministry had earlier said foreigners would be given a longer grace period until South Sudan worked on labour laws to guide firms on how to mix locals and foreigners in their employment. “Foreigners working with NGOs or companies here can continue staying until we finalise our labour laws,” spokesman Mawien Makol Ariik told the Nation.

On Tuesday, Juba told firms and NGOs to do away with foreign workers in positions ranging from executive directors to receptionists by October 15, this year, and replace them with “competent” South Sudanese.

South Sudan minister for Labour Ngor Kolong Ngor said the move was meant to protect the rights and interests of the locals.

The move excludes foreigners working with the UN as well as consultants. The directive targeted workers in hotels, aid agencies, oil companies, banks, telecoms as well as tours and travel firms, where many Kenyans work.

Wednesday, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said Nairobi had not received formal communication from Juba on the matter, but said it was normal for any government to promote employment of its nationals.

“I saw the circular, I do not think from the casual reading of it that this affects Kenyans,” Dr Kibicho said on the sidelines of a diplomats’ induction session at the Safari Park Hotel.

“We know the kind of assistance we have extended to that country in terms of training of their civil service. Therefore, I do not want to speak too much now,” said Dr Kibicho, promising to issue a detailed response after talking with South Sudanese officials.

South Sudan does not have a labour law and most of its decisions are based on the law in Khartoum which requires that 80 per cent of vacancies in firms and NGOs to go their nationals.