South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit returned to Juba on Saturday after attending the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow and holding bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During their meeting at the Kremlin on Friday, Putin announced that Russia had increased its scholarship allocation for South Sudanese students to 40 places for the 2026–2027 academic year.
“We shall continue to assist in training personnel for South Sudan. For 2026/2027, we have raised the quota to 40 people,” Putin said.
He did not specify the fields of study covered by the allocation.
Putin described relations between Russia and South Sudan as friendly, noting that the two countries marked the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
He recalled Kiir’s visit to Moscow in September 2023, when the two leaders discussed bilateral and regional issues and agreed to establish a Russian embassy in Juba.
Trade and economic ties
Putin said the two governments are exploring ways to expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation, acknowledging that the potential of their relationship had yet to be fully realised.
“Together we are exploring ways to strengthen bilateral trade and economic engagement. Plainly, our potential is not yet fully realised,” he said.
Putin also welcomed cooperation between the two countries in international affairs, particularly at the United Nations, where he said Moscow and Juba held closely aligned positions on key issues.
He said the meeting provided an opportunity to review bilateral cooperation and discuss issues of mutual interest.
Russia-Africa summit
The third Russia-Africa Summit concluded in Moscow on Thursday, October 29, after two days of talks.
According to the Kremlin, delegations from 48 African countries attended, including 22 led by heads of state. Participants adopted a final declaration reaffirming their commitment to building a “mutually beneficial, equal and multifaceted” partnership.
The declaration sets out priority areas for political, security, economic and scientific cooperation in the coming years.
Caretaker Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Cecilia Adut Manyok said the summit provided a platform for African leaders and Russia to strengthen engagement and explore cooperation in economic development, security and other areas of mutual interest.
She said South Sudan’s priorities included cooperation in agriculture, security, agro-processing, infrastructure development, foreign direct investment, education, technical trade, healthcare, science and technology, local capacity building and peacebuilding.
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