The development follows a meeting in Juba between Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Kosmodemiyanskiy and Minister of Presidential Affairs Africano Mande Gedima, where Moscow formally delivered an invitation for Kiir to attend the upcoming Third Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 28–29 in the Russian capital.
According to both the Russian Embassy and the Office of the President, the meeting was described as “friendly and constructive”, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation across political, economic, and cultural sectors.
Central to the discussions was Russia’s pledge to support South Sudan’s electoral process, including a commitment to train staff from the National Elections Commission in Russia ahead of the polls slated for late December.
The Russian envoy emphasized that relations between Juba and Moscow are grounded in mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference, reaffirming Russia’s readiness to deepen engagement not only in governance but also in trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
Presidential Press Secretary Arek Aldo Ajou said the government welcomed the commitment, noting that talks also explored opportunities for economic development and increased investment.
Kiir’s anticipated meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the summit is expected to further consolidate these commitments, particularly as South Sudan faces mounting international scrutiny over delays in implementing key provisions of its peace agreement.
Russia has recently taken a more supportive stance at the United Nations, urging the international community to back the country’s fragile transition rather than intensify criticism.
At a recent session of the United Nations Security Council, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva called for constructive engagement with Juba, even as concerns persist over political detentions, including that of First Vice President Riek Machar, whose arrest in March 2025 on treason and murder charges remains contested by his party.
The upcoming summit in Moscow is part of Russia’s effort to strengthen its partnerships across Africa. It will focus on key areas such as security cooperation, energy development, agriculture, industrialization, and technology transfer, while also reviewing progress made since the previous Russia–Africa summits in 2019 and 2023.
Those earlier engagements produced several notable agreements, including expanded military-technical cooperation, commitments to boost trade and investment flows, and frameworks for collaboration in energy and natural resource development.
Russia also pledged support for infrastructure projects and capacity-building initiatives, alongside increased scholarships and technical training opportunities for African professionals—an approach now reflected in its offer to train South Sudanese electoral officials.
good progess to my government