Questions in parliament about closure of Dutch embassy in South Sudan

In the Dutch House of Representatives, questions have been raised about the government’s plan to close the Dutch embassy in Juba, South Sudan. The questions were submitted by SGP-leader Chris Stoffer and SP MP Sarah Dobbe and are addressed to the ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

The SGP (3 seats) and SP (3 seats) are relatively small parties in the Dutch parliament. So far, there are no indications that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to reverse the proposed budget cut.

The MPs want to know, among other things, which arguments underlie the planned closure and how this decision has been weighed against the fragile situation in South Sudan. They point out that the country is affected by multiple, overlapping crises and that an estimated ten million people depend on humanitarian aid. According to the questioners, a physical diplomatic presence is particularly important in such a context for effective humanitarian assistance and the safety of aid workers.

Stoffer and Dobbe also ask which alternatives to a full closure have been considered, such as maintaining a scaled‑down post, and whether the government is willing to postpone a final decision pending ongoing advice on the Dutch diplomatic network.

In addition, they want clarification on how the cutback at the embassy relates to broader investments in the global embassy network and to the Netherlands’ ambitions in the field of development cooperation.