Category: Peace

President Salva Kiir and visiting German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock met on Friday to discuss the implementation of 2018 peace agreement and the upcoming elections.

It is the first time that the top German foreign policy official jets to South Sudan since her appointment in December 2021.

According to the Office of the President, Kiir and Ms. Baerbock also discussed the conflict in neighboring Sudan, which has since displaced nearly 500,000 people to the country.

Kiir’s office said Ms. Baerbock delivered a message of goodwill to South Sudanese leadership, adding that the visit signals a new dawn of bilateral relations between the two countries.

“The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ramadan Goc, said the President and German diplomat had cordial discussions on a number of issues concerning development, peace and security efforts in the region,” the statement reads.

Upon arrival on Friday, Ms. Baerbock was welcomed by peacekeeping officials of the UN Mission in the country and received briefing on the situation in South Sudan at the UNMISS headquarters.

Ms. Baerbock is also expected to visit the refugee settlement of Gorom, about 20 kilometers west of Juba, which is home to refugees from Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

There are currently 14 German soldiers deployed in UNMISS command staff and as military observers, according to DPA International.

On Wednesday, the German Cabinet voted in favor of extending Germany’s participation in UNMISS, while the decision is pending approval from the country’s parliament.

Prof. Akok reportedly said the discussion focused on the release of elections budget in order to prepare the ground for the timely conduct of general elections.

“Their meeting focused on important priorities for the electoral body which include release of elections budget in order to prepare the ground for the timely conduct of general elections,” reads part of a statement from the Office of the President.

According to the 2018 pact, the President, in consultation with the Parties, and with the approval of the parliament, shall reconstitute a competent and impartial National Elections Commission to conduct elections, no later than twelve months after the commencement of the Transitional Period.

President Salva Kiir reappointed Prof. Akok on SPLM party ticket in November 2023 when the former reconstituted the National Elections Commission and relevant election institutions.

Michael Yabagayo of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) was named his deputy, Mach Maika Deng was appointed the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, and six more members were also appointed.

On January 12, 2024, the election commission boss appealed for timely release of over 250 billion South Sudan pounds to prepare the country for general elections in December 2024.

The election commission has previously been mired in bankruptcy as its chairperson repeated appealed to the Ministry of Finance and Planning to clear years of rent arrears lest they face eviction.