South Sudan, Saudi Arabia sign 9-article cooperation agreement

JUBA – South Sudan government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a nine-article cooperation agreement following talks between foreign minister Mayik Ayii Deng and his Saudi counterpart Faisal Bin Farhan al Saud.

In a statement, the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation in Juba said the agreement paves way for various institutions to exchange visits and expertise in the field of economy and education.

“The minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation Hon. Mayiik Ayii Deng and the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs His Royal Highness Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud have today signed a 9 articles document known as General Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of South Sudan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the foreign ministry statement said.

“The signing of this Cooperation agreement will pave the way for various institutions from the two countries to exchange visits and share expertise in the fields of Economy, Education, Agriculture and Livestock, Trade, Petroleum and Mineral sector, Tourism, Sports, Health, infrastructure among others,” the statement added.

Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud “thanked Minister Mayiik for attaching great importance to strengthening of relations between the two countries and pledged the Kingdom’s readiness to cooperate with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan on areas of mutual interest between the two countries,” the statement added.

According to the South Sudan’s foreign ministry, the top Saudi diploma urged “that a technical committee comprising of officials from both countries be formed to follow up on the implementation of this agreement.”

For his part, Minister Mayiik “delivered to His Royal Highness Faisal a message from His Excellency President Salva Kiir to His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulahi’s Al Saud, the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques.”

The ministry statement further said “The government delegation to Saudi Arabia led by minister Mayiik is expected to continue holding vital sideline meetings with relevant institutions in Riyadh.”