South Sudan has informed the administration of President Donald Trump that it is willing to consider accepting additional deportees from the United States, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing diplomatic communications and individuals familiar with the talks.

The offer reportedly comes as part of broader discussions in which Juba has also asked Washington to lift sanctions on one of its top officials. Reuters has not independently verified the details.

If confirmed, this development would mark a rare instance of cooperation between the two governments on migration, particularly as the Trump administration continues its push for stricter deportation enforcement and tighter immigration policies.

Sanctions and Strategic Calculations

South Sudan has long been under US scrutiny for its human rights record, corruption, and failure to implement meaningful reforms since its independence in 2011. In response, Washington has imposed sanctions on several key figures within the South Sudanese government over the years.

Analysts say Juba’s new overture could be an attempt to ease those diplomatic pressures. Accepting more deportees could help thaw relations with the US and potentially lead to broader concessions on aid or diplomatic engagement.

It remains unclear which official South Sudan wants sanctions lifted from or how far the US is willing to go in return for compliance on deportations.