Visiting Saudi Arabia FM, South Sudan discuss cooperation, investments

The visiting Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister and South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Monday discussed bilateral ties and investment in priority areas such as agriculture and infrastructure development in the youngest nation.

“We agree that we will continue to engage not only at the Ministerial level but at the working level to start to identify specific areas of cooperation, specific areas of investment that can benefit both of our countries,” said Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told journalists on Monday after meeting President Salva Kiir in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Farhan disclosed that they agreed to work together to bring about peace and stability in the region.

Mayiik Ayii Deng, South Sudan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that Juba needs Saudi Arabia in the face of polarity in the world amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“Saudi Arabia is well-poised to help build a stabilizing road in Africa, and South Sudan is equally well positioned to be a partner, and a gateway to the rest of Africa, our potential for agriculture investment and vast land mass stand as just a few examples of prospective stabilizing investment,” said Deng.

Deng said that building relationship with other neutral countries will not only allow for sustained peace and security within the region and economic benefits but also helps in collective resistance against polarizing forces which threaten the fabric of global security.