By Kei Emmanuel Duku
South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Monday Semaya K. Kumba, yesterday, met with the Norwegian Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Endre Stiansen and discussed matters partnering to strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing critical regional security challenges.
According to an official statement posted on the social media page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the high-level discussions centered primarily on the status of South Sudan’s transitional peace process and the cascading humanitarian and security consequences of the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.
The meeting underscored the deep mutual interest shared by Juba and Oslo in achieving stability in the troubled Horn of Africa region.
Minister Kumba provided Envoy Stiansen with an update on the progress and challenges facing the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), emphasizing the importance of international political and technical backing as the country moves towards its transition benchmarks.
Norway, as a key member of the Troika (alongside the US and UK) that monitors the peace agreement, holds significant leverage in encouraging timely and complete implementation of the accord.
The diplomats also spent considerable time discussing the current situation in Sudan. With Juba sharing a long and porous border with its northern neighbor. The conversation explored potential diplomatic avenues and coordination mechanisms to support regional efforts aimed at bringing the devastating conflict to an end.
Ambassador Kumba reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to maintaining robust relations with Norway, acknowledging Oslo’s long-standing role as a partner in peace and development. Envoy Stiansen reiterated Norway’s sustained commitment to supporting South Sudan’s path toward a peaceful and democratic future.
Norway has historically been one of South Sudan’s most consistent and important international partners. Along with the United States and the United Kingdom, Norway forms the Troika, a diplomatic group dedicated to supporting the implementation of the R-ARCSS and promoting peace and good governance in South Sudan. This partnership provides diplomatic pressure and funding necessary to move the peace process forward.
Endre Stiansen, as the Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, manages Oslo’s broader diplomatic strategy for the region, which has been characterized by high political instability, including the war in Sudan. This gives the Envoy a mandate to discuss not only bilateral issues but also South Sudan’s critical role as a neighboring state and potential mediator as it has been in the recent past.