South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and attracting investment, his office said.
In a statement before Kiir’s departure, Presidential Press Secretary David Amuor Majur told state media the president is expected to meet Emirati officials in Abu Dhabi to discuss expanding trade partnerships and encouraging investors to explore opportunities in South Sudan.
Amuor said the visit underscores the commitment of both countries to deepening relations and advancing shared goals in economic development and sustainable growth.
He did not specify the length of Kiir’s stay.
Kiir was seen off at Juba International Airport by senior government officials, including Vice President and head of the Economic Cluster Benjamin Bol Mel.
Saturday’s trip marks Kiir’s third visit to the UAE this year.
His first visit was a three-day working trip in February focused on strengthening bilateral ties. He returned in June for a 10-day visit aimed at attracting investment in South Sudan’s oil and infrastructure sectors, a trip that sparked speculation about his health.
South Sudan and the UAE maintain diplomatic and trade relations, with the Gulf nation providing humanitarian assistance to the conflict-affected East African country.
In May, neighbouring Sudan’s military-led government severed diplomatic ties with the UAE, accusing it of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and fuelling the ongoing war there.
Observer comments
Edmond Yakani, a South Sudanese political observer, told Radio Tamazuj that the president’s third visit to the Gulf nation is positive if it delivers concrete results on improving the economic woes facing South Sudan.
“We are expecting the president’s regular visits to the UAE to help the country gain practical foreign relations and cooperation between South Sudan and the UAE in all sectors,” he said.
“We hope to get public briefings on the outcomes of those visits to inform citizens about the president’s efforts, and if the president goes for other purposes, that should also be declared to the public,” he added.