Kiir hails India after refusal to support renewed arms embargo on South Sudan

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has commended India on its ‘continue’ support for the world’s youngest country at the international level days after the United Nations Security Council voted to renew arms embargo and sanctions on South Sudan.

This comes following a meeting between Kiir and outgoing Indian ambassador to South Sudan S.D. Moorthy at the state house J1 on Wednesday in which the South Sudanese head of state urged the Asian country to continue its support for South Sudan.

“Wednesday 2nd June 2021- His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit met with the Outgoing Indian ambassador to South Sudan S.D. Moorthy, who paid a courtesy call on the President to bide farewell for having completed his years of tenure of duty in South Sudan,” the presidency said in a statement following the meeting this evening.

During the United Nations Security Council vote, India and Kenya abstained. All other 13 members of the Council voted in favor of the motion brought forth by the United States of America.

According to the statement, President Kiir “appreciated the government of India for the support they gave to South Sudan at the level of United Nation Security Council and commended the bilateral cooperation between South Sudan and India.”

The statement quoted the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation Beatrice Khamisa Wani as saying that the President “urged the Government of India to continue to stand with South Sudan as we implement the revitalized peace agreement.”

The top diplomat said Kiir “applauded the Indian Government for their continuous support to South Sudan inform of scholarships, capacity training and etc.”

For his part, Ambassador Moorthy said he came “to bide farewell to H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit for having completed [my] diplomatic assignment in South Sudan.”

The outgoing Indian diplomat further added that he had “a cordial discussion with H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit about the Indian support to South Sudan and explained to the president what the Indian embassy has done in South Sudan for the last 3 years in areas of education, health and agriculture.”