JUBA – A high-level delegation from South Sudan’s Abyei Committee, led by the Minister of East African Affairs, Pieng Deng Kuol, is in Ethiopia to brief the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Guang Cong, on the situation in Abyei.
Speaking during a monthly media briefing in Juba, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Apuk Ayuel, said the delegation includes the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Akuei Bona Malual.
“Currently, the Deputy Minister is in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as part of a delegation from the National Committee for the Final Status of Abyei, led by Hon. Pieng Deng Kuol, Minister of East African Affairs and Deputy Chairperson of the Committee,” Amb. Apuk said.
She added that during the visit, the delegation met with Cong to brief him on developments in Abyei ahead of his forthcoming report to the United Nations Security Council.
Mr. Cong was appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in July 2025 as the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, succeeding Hanna Serwaa Tetteh of Ghana. He brings more than two decades of experience in international affairs, including 23 years of service in various UN peace operations. He also serves as Deputy Special Representative for South Sudan and Deputy Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Ambassador Apuk further revealed that the Abyei Committee delegation also paid a courtesy call on Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation as well as the status of Abyei.
According to Ethiopian outlet Pulse Africa, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos, received the South Sudanese delegation led by Minister Pieng Deng Kuol on Friday morning.
During the meeting, Minister Gedion expressed gratitude to President Salva Kiir for attending the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s continued commitment to supporting peace and development in South Sudan.
He also underscored the importance of enhancing infrastructural connectivity and regional integration as key drivers of shared prosperity and stability across the Horn of Africa.
Abyei remains a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan, with the final political status unresolved and progress stalled by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
On 16th October 2025, Kiir reconstituted a high-level committee to facilitate dialogue and expedite the resolution of the final status.
The committee, led by Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, Vice President for the Economic Cluster, with Pieng Deng Majok serving as Deputy Chair, was tasked to engage directly with the Government of Sudan and report monthly to the president on the progress made toward resolving Abyei’s status.
The members include Chol Mawut Ungwech Ajongo, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, who acts as Rapporteur, and Martin Otimoya as Deputy Rapporteur.
Other notable members are Monday Semaya Kumba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Gen. Chol Thon Balok, Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs.
