Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Maj. Gen. Elia Costa Faustino, the Director General of Immigration, today ordered his officers to stop “selling” South Sudan to foreigners through forged documents and illegal passports.
Speaking on Tuesday, January 6, during a decoration parade for newly promoted Immigration Officers, Maj. Gen. Costa delivered a stern mandate: prioritize national sovereignty over the pursuit of bribes.
The Director General revealed a disturbing trend where officers allegedly accept bribes—often ranging from $100 to $200—to process fraudulent marriage agreements. These forged documents are then used to unlawfully grant South Sudanese nationality and passports to foreign nationals.
Maj. Gen. Costa expressed deep concern over the misplaced priorities of some personnel, noting that officers are frequently seen fast-tracking paperwork for foreigners while genuine South Sudanese citizens face delays.
“You will find an officer running after the document of a foreigner instead of the document of a South Sudanese. Why do you help them?” Gen Costa questioned. “Let me follow up on their process if it’s genuine enough.”
Gen Costa’s remarks highlight a growing crisis of integrity within the department. By facilitating illegal citizenship, he argued, officers are effectively compromising the security and identity of the Republic for short-term financial gain.
He reminded the newly promoted officers that their uniforms represent a commitment to the law, not a license for extortion or forgery. The warning serves as a significant signal of a looming crackdown on internal syndicates that assist foreigners in obtaining national identification through the “back door.”
The Directorate signaled that it will be intensifying oversight to catch and prosecute those involved in the forgery of marriage certificates and nationality applications.
As South Sudan moves to modernize its civil registry, Maj. Gen. Costa’s message was clear: the department will no longer tolerate officers who trade the nation’s heritage for a few hundred dollars.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
