Juba, Southern Sudan 1 April 2009
South African Ambassador to the Republic of the Sudan, Dr Manelisi Genge,
supported by two senior officials from the department, Graham Maitland and Mr G
Setlhoke, will today, Wednesday 1 April 2009 officially open the South African
Consulate-General in Juba, Southern Sudan.
The opening of the Consulate in Juba will consolidate South Africaâs
presence in the Sudan and strengthen the support for peace efforts and the
implementation of the post conflict reconstruction and development related
projects in Southern Sudan, including the implementation of the comprehensive
peace agreement, which was signed in 2005 marking an end to the civil war in
the Sudan.
South Africa â Sudan Bilateral Relations
South Africa and Sudan enjoy good bilateral relations and the Minister is
the chair of the African Union Ministerial Committee on post-conflict
reconstruction and development of the Sudan.
South Africaâs involvement in the Sudan regarding the post conflict
reconstruction and development is led by the Department of Foreign Affairs in
partnership with University of South Africa (UNISA) and the Government of
Southern Sudan in respect of capacity and institution building project for
Southern Sudan which has, to date, trained over 1 000 Government of Southern
Sudan (GOSS) officials in the following areas:
* Leadership
* Governance
* Public service and administration
* Public finance and management
* Intergovernmental relations
* Judiciary and legal affairs
* Police
* Correctional services
* Government communication
* Information communication and technology
* Diplomacy and international relations
* Local government and management.
South Africa has also deployed peacekeepers and civilian police in Darfur as
part of the United Nations-African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Sudan (UNAMID)
and it continues to support the Darfur peace efforts through bilateral and
multilateral mechanisms.
Economic relations
Trade figures between South Africa and the Sudan have increased in favour of
South Africa.
Exports: 2008
Amount: R718 412 000
Exports: 2007
Amount: R463 992 000
Imports: 2008
Amount: R50 000
Imports: 2007
Amount: R6 970 000
South African exports to Sudan include base metals, machinery, wood pulp,
plastics and chemicals while imports from Sudan include vegetables, animal
fats, plastics and machinery.
On 26 February 2009, the Department of Foreign Affairs in partnership with
the Department of Trade and Industry hosted a successful Breakfast Roundtable
discussion between South African Companies and Ministers from the Government of
Southern Sudan (GOSS) with the aim of unveiling investment opportunities for
South African companies in Southern Sudan.
Opening of the Consulate-General
The opening of the South African Consulate-General in Southern Sudan, to be
based in Juba, will contribute to facilitating the movement of business people
between the two countries thus ensuring the flow of investment to both
countries, as well as paving the way for people to people contact between South
Africans and the Sudanese from Southern Sudan.
Enquiries:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
1 April 2009
