The South Sudanese Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Gen John Kong Nyuon was today a guest of honour of South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Hon. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula - MP, at the Castle of Good Hope where a twenty one gun salute greeted the visiting delegation, ahead of a signing of a declaration of intent to work towards formalising relations between the two countries in the areas of defence.
The signing of the declaration of intent by the two countries was the first step towards working on a Defence Memorandum of Understanding since the birth of the new country South Sudan.
The South African National Defence Force, under the auspices of the United Nations, is already part of a multi-national peace keeping force that is in the border region between Sudan and South Sudan following the independence of South Sudan in 2011.
The South African Government has also trained South Sudanese officials in various fields including the setting up of a civil service in that country. The SANDF's work in South Sudan has been to assist the newly formed country put together a defence force as well as the training of State security structures. A final MoU on a defence cooperation agreement between the two countries is expected to be signed in South Sudan in the near future.
Enquiries:
Sonwabo Mbananga
Ministry Spokesperson
Cell: 082 045 3963
