May 15, 2021 — South Sudan president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, has met the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Mikhail Bogdanov, who also served as the Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, at the Republican Palace on May 14, 2021.
According to a report seen by Nyamilepedia, South Sudan and Russia discussed how the two countries would mint their bilateral relations.
In addition to ensuring cozy bilateral relations, South Sudan President also briefed Mr. Bogdanov on the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement that was signed in Khartoum, Sudan on 12th September 2018.
According to a statement released by the office of the president, the meeting also discussed how the Russian Federation plans to continue supporting the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and how the Russians should invest in the Republic of South Sudan.
“The meeting discussed the support of Russian Federation in the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement, investment opportunities in South Sudan to Russian Business Community as well as the ways to strengthen the bilateral relations between South Sudan and Russia.” Read part of the statement from President Kiir’s office.
While stressing the significance of the next step in the implementation process of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, President Kiir briefed the delegation on possible investment opportunities in the country that would be of great potentials to Russian companies.
” President Salva Kiir appealed to the delegation of Russian Federation to convey the message of investment opportunities in South Sudan to Russian Business Community that there is a vast potential for Russian companies with requisite business integrity to invest in oil and gas, agriculture, mining, renewable energy, infrastructural development and ways to strengthen the bilateral relations between South Sudan and Russia.” the statement added.
President Salva Kiir further expressed his gratitude to Russian Federation for their unwavering support to South Sudan especially on the strong position they often take at the United Nations Security Council against sanctions the Americans want to be imposed on South Sudan.
President Salva Kiir urged for President Putin’s support to help South Sudan in addressing some of these challenges that are hindering the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.”
” The President also appealed to the Russian Federation to help in clarifying this point to other stakeholders within the international community that, with the chapter 1 of the Agreement completed, our focus now turns to chapter 2, which deals with security arrangements, and the ability to expedite this process is affected by the arms embargo imposed on us by the United Nations Security Council. The forces are trained at the moment and cannot be graduated with arms embargo still in place.” President Kiir continued.
According to President Kiir, arms embargoes and fear of sanctions have made it difficult for the Government to purchase necessary equipment for the graduation of the unified forces.
In response, the delegation of the Russian Federation assured President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Russia’s support to engage other stakeholders to ensure that these issues are addressed to give way for the graduation of unified forces and for effective security sector reform in South Sudan to be implemented.
President Kiir also called on the Russians to help South Sudan fight off the idea of dragging leaders to the hybrid court saying that they would rather establish reconciliation, healing, and reparation programs across the country.
“The President and Russian Presidential Envoy also discussed the importance of putting more focus on truth, reconciliation, healing and repatriation which holds much promise to reconciling the people of South Sudan rather than the establishment of hybrid court which will not bring meaningful reconciliation for the people of South Sudan,” it stated.
