South Sudan and Russia have moved to deepen bilateral cooperation in the oil and legal sectors following separate high-level meetings between official...
South Sudan and Russia have moved to deepen bilateral cooperation in the oil and legal sectors following separate high-level meetings between officials from the two countries in Moscow.The meetings took place on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa Summit, which South Sudan is attending from Oct. 26-31, as Juba seeks to strengthen economic, technical, legal and diplomatic relations with Moscow.On Oct. 29, South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum, Awow Daniel Chuang, met with Russia’s Minister of Energy, Sergey Tsivilev, at the Russian Ministry of Energy alongside officials from the Ministry of Petroleum, Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet) and Russian state-owned oil company Zarubezhneft.The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in the petroleum sector, with the proposed transaction described by the Ministry of Petroleum as a significant development that could open opportunities for increased investment and technical collaboration between the two countries.The initiative is expected to strengthen economic ties and create opportunities for broader cooperation in areas including energy, technology and investment.Separately, South Sudan’s Caretaker Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr. Wek Mamer Kuol, met with his Russian counterpart, Konstantin Chuychenko, to explore ways of expanding legal cooperation.During the meeting, Chuychenko welcomed the South Sudanese delegation to the Russian Ministry of Justice, describing relations between the two countries as friendly and based on mutual respect.He noted that Russia was among the first countries to recognize South Sudan’s independence and said political contacts and economic cooperation between the two countries continued to develop.Chuychenko said Russia’s Ministry of Justice could contribute to strengthening bilateral relations through the development of international legal frameworks, including possible agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal and civil matters.He also proposed sharing legal expertise through joint seminars, consultations between experts and exchanges of best practices, both in person and online.The Russian justice minister further invited Kuol to attend the 15th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, scheduled for May 20-22, 2027. The forum is expected to include an Open Meeting of Ministers of Justice, traditionally attended by justice ministers from more than 20 countries, alongside legal and cultural activities.The two meetings highlight South Sudan’s efforts to broaden its engagement with Russia beyond traditional diplomatic relations, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in the oil industry, investment, legal affairs and institutional development.South Sudan’s participation in the Russia-Africa Summit provides an opportunity for the country to explore partnerships and attract international cooperation in support of its economic and institutional development.Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Unit.
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