Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

The Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan [MOS(VM)], was on official visit in Juba (South Sudan) from 20-22 October, 2021. This was the first ministerial visit from Indian side to South Sudan in more than five years.

2. MOS(VM) had meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon’ble Mr. Mayiik Ayii Deng. Both sides reviewed all aspects of the existing relations and expressed willingness to expand the cooperation in various sectors including agriculture, livestock, education, healthcare and IT.

3. South Sudan was invited to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). In the meeting with Ms. Mary Nawai Martin, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of South Sudan, India expressed its readiness to share its own experiences in developing parliamentary procedures and practices with South Sudan and offered various capacity building training courses.

4. The visit also included a call on H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, the First Vice President of South Sudan. MOS(VM) emphasized the untapped potential for growth of bilateral trade and Indian investment between the two countries and drew his attention to the constraints being faced by the Indian entrepreneurs in South Sudan. H.E. Riek Machar assured about investor friendly atmosphere for Indian investors in South Sudan.

5. In call on H.E. Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, India’s support for the ongoing peace process envisaged in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was reiterated. President Salva Kiir sought India’s cooperation in health sector and, in consideration of long pending demands of Indian community living in South Sudan, announced his approval for allocation of land for Hindu cremation ground and a temple in Juba.

6. The visit included an interaction with the Indian community and a session with Indian entrepreneurs. MOS(VM) also visited Indian Army Field Hospital under UN Mission, BAPS Hindu Temple and Daughters of Mary Immaculate (an Indian religious congregation) premise. Indian community in South Sudan welcomed MOS(VM) wholeheartedly and felt elated to receive an Indian Minister after so many years.

7. The visit of MOS(VM) to South Sudan is a landmark development for providing an impetus to bilateral relations