Chinese embassy refutes rumours about "take-over" of South Sudan airport

The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan has refuted rumours claiming that China will take over the newly renovated international airport in capital Juba if the loan repayment defaults.

"The rumours have been made up to exaggerate the amount of China's loan to South Sudan, so as to blame China for creating a 'debt trap'," said a statement issued Tuesday by the embassy. Statistics from the International Monetary Fund indicate that the Chinese loan accounts for about 10 percent of South Sudan's total loans and the bulk of them are commercial ones issued by other foreign financial institutions.