South Sudan’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol, on Monday presented a series of bilateral agreements and a treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the national parliament for review and potential ratification.
The documents include a memorandum of understanding on visa exemption, an agreement on air services, a treaty on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion, and a bilateral investment treaty.
Addressing lawmakers in Juba on August 25, Minister Mamer said the visa exemption memorandum, initially signed in 2019, aims to boost bilateral ties and facilitate travel between the two countries.
“Allow me to present to you this memorandum of understanding between the government of South Sudan and the government of the United Arab Emirates on the exemption of entry visa requirements for deliberation and ratification,” he said.
The agreement seeks to exempt certain categories of passport holders from visa requirements, including diplomatic, official, business, and ordinary passport holders from South Sudan, and diplomatic, special, and ordinary passport holders from the UAE.
Mamer said the 12-article memorandum prohibits visa issuance to nationals of both countries if their passports are valid for less than six months.
Regarding the air services agreement, the minister said it was designed to promote international air transport and strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ aviation sectors.
“The purpose of this agreement is to facilitate international air transport and strengthen friendship between the two countries and their people,” he said.
Parliament Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba welcomed the agreements, calling them “good news” for South Sudanese citizens, especially businesspeople who stand to benefit from the visa waiver.
She referred the documents to the parliamentary committees on foreign affairs, legislation and justice, and taxation for scrutiny. A report is expected within two weeks.