South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has outlined major diplomatic activities undertaken in October, underscoring President Salva Kiir’s ongoing foreign policy engagements and the ministry’s efforts to strengthen regional and international partnerships.
Speaking at the ministry’s monthly media briefing in Juba, Spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen told journalists that the month’s activities reflected the country’s commitment to advancing peace, regional cooperation, and economic diplomacy.
She said President Kiir is currently on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is holding meetings with Emirati officials to deepen bilateral relations, attract investment, and promote South Sudan’s economic potential.
She said earlier on 17 October, the president met with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, to discuss coordination on peacekeeping and the implementation of UNMISS priorities.
Apuk said Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba led several high-level engagements in October, focusing on economic cooperation, regional peace, and multilateral relations.
She added that the minister held bilateral meetings with counterparts and envoys from South Africa, India, Cuba, Norway, Turkey, China, and Japan, as well as consultations with UNMISS and UNDP to review development partnerships.
Regionally, the foreign minister undertook a working mission to Sudan, meeting senior officials, including the president, the deputy chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, and the minister of energy and petroleum, to discuss trade, energy, border management, and infrastructure.
Minister Kumba also hosted Uganda’s Minister of State for Northern Uganda for talks on cross-border cooperation and peacebuilding initiatives.
Apuk further said South Sudan also ratified its membership in the African Minerals Strategy Group, strengthening its engagement in the continent’s resource governance and development dialogue.
According to the foreign ministry mouthpiece, Deputy Minister Akuei Bona Malual represented South Sudan in consultations with UNMISS and regional partners, emphasising peacebuilding and foreign policy coordination.
She added that the deputy foreign minister is currently in Ethiopia as part of a delegation from the National Committee for the Final Status of Abyei, led by Minister Pieng Deng Kuol, where they met with Guang Cong, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. The delegation briefed him on the situation in Abyei ahead of his upcoming report to the UN Security Council and also held talks with Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Relatedly, the foreign ministry’s Undersecretary Ambassador Agnes Osuaha represented the Ministry at the 5th Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Egypt, contributing to discussions on peace, governance, and resilience. She also oversaw the launch of an International Humanitarian Law training programme at the Ministry’s headquarters in partnership with the IACRC and RADCOS.
During the question-and-answer session, Apuk confirmed that the ministry is closely monitoring reports of deportations of South Sudanese nationals from Sudan. She said diplomatic engagements are ongoing with the Sudanese authorities to ensure the safety and reunification of affected families.
“It was encouraging that recently, women who had been deported were reunited with their children,” Apuk said, adding that the ministry continues to follow up on the welfare of citizens still trapped in Sudan.
She reaffirmed that plans for repatriation had been discussed earlier and could be revisited depending on developments.
“The ministry continues to advance South Sudan’s diplomatic agenda through focused engagement, regional cooperation, and strategic outreach to support peace, stability, and sustainable development for our people,” Apuk said.