South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, returned to Juba on Monday after what he described as a “successful, promising, and important” visit to Sudan, where the two nations agreed to strengthen security and economic ties.
South Sudan and Sudan have pledged to enhance security cooperation and establish a joint economic committee following a visit by South Sudan’s foreign minister to Port Sudan, the two countries announced Monday.
In a statement in Juba, South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen said the nations agreed to strengthen security ties through intelligence sharing, counterterrorism cooperation and bolstering border security. They also plan to form a joint economic committee to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.
The agreements were reached during Kumba’s meetings with senior Sudanese officials, including Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, and Malik Agar, the council’s deputy chairman. Kumba also met with Prime Minister Dr. Idris Gamel Idris and Foreign Minister Ambassador Ali al-Sadiq, according to the spokesperson.
Addressing reporters at Juba International Airport, Kumba said a top priority was addressing the security and living conditions of South Sudanese citizens residing in Sudan.
“I also met with the director general of the General Intelligence Service, and we discussed a number of issues of mutual concern,” Kumba said. “I discussed with them the situation of South Sudanese citizens living in Sudan.”
He said he also met with a group of South Sudanese community leaders and students to listen to their challenges.
Kumba added that he delivered a written letter from President Salva Kiir Mayardit to al-Burhan, calling it “a great honor.”
The ministry’s statement outlined a schedule of upcoming high-level visits to solidify the agreements. Sudan’s ministers of foreign affairs, petroleum and interior are expected to visit Juba, while South Sudan’s vice president and ministers of trade and petroleum are planned to travel to Sudan.
The two sides also committed to activating regular political consultation mechanisms between their foreign ministries, the statement concluded.