Ateny Wek Ateny, former press secretary in the office of the President, speaks to Eye Radio| Credit | File photo

The proposal by Israelis to forcefully resettle Gaza/Palestinians to South Sudan has been trending online and offline between international and all social media outlets, with mix reactions from individuals and groups. South Sudanese from different walks of life — all unanimously saying no. Yet, this proposal was reported to have been discussed by two governments; South Sudan and Israel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has vehemently denied the existence of such deal. In the statement issued on August 13, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called this trending news as “baseless and do not reflect the official position or the policy of the government of the Republic of South Sudan.”

What was obvious in the said statement, however, is the fact that, it did not reflect on the reality of the situation. The statement failed to highlight the true position of the government in that proposal. So, what was the reason the Israelis Foreign Affairs delegation came to Juba to discuss? To deny an obvious is like accepting the existence of smoke without fire.

Before, our government denied the deployment of UPDF in South Sudan, until soldiers from Uganda were seen roaming the streets in Juba, the issue of criminal deportees from US coming to South Sudan, until the top 8th criminals came through Djibouti, and now the issue of Palestinians resettlement, until two or three planes full of Palestinians refugees land at Juba International Airport. Always, the opposite is proven.

Now, what difference could denying the plan to resettle Palestinians in South Sudan make? the plan to resettle Palestinians in South Sudan was discussed by two governments. There is nowhere the renowned international media like BBC, CNN, AP, and Israeli media could be discussing non existing issue.  Unless something beyond Israelis and South Sudanese governments happens, the proposal is real.

But I personally believe it won’t be possible for Palestinians to come to South Sudan. Historically, it is not every plan that succeed. The British colonial masters in 1905, put a proposal to resettle Jewish people in an alternative land in what was known as British East Africa which combined the today Uganda and Kenya. The Jewish themselves rejected this proposal and, instead they established their state on 14th May, 1948.

The same thing would happen to Palestinians. Never ever shall this country be partly Palestinian. In fact, the Palestinians are suffering, but South Sudan is not alternative to their dreams. They must wait for the establishment of the two States’s solution which the international community is seeing as a viable option.

Finally, even if, South Sudan government was to get into this agreement to resettle Palestinians in South Sudan in return for anything she may desperately be looking to achieve, the plan is impossible. The Palestinians themselves don’t see South Sudan as their alternative home. The least for them doesn’t fall outside the Arab world.

The Arab world as well as the International Community are against this plan to force Palestinians to leave their own land for anywhere. It is not possible in 21st century to give away a country like South Sudan without its people’s approval. If, the Palestinians are to be allowed to settle in South Sudan, it must be through another referendum in which all South Sudanese are allowed to vote on yes or no to Palestinians. The government doesn’t own South Sudan to do it alone.

The author is the former Press Secretary in the Office of the President and former Member of the NCRC 2011. He could be reached by atenypiokerwek@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the above article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Eye Radio. All claims made are the author’s responsibility alone.