Ethio-South Sudan People-to-People Relations Forum held in Juba

Addis Ababa, July 6, 2022 (FBC) -A discussion forum under the theme: “Ethiopia-South Sudan People-to-People Relations and South Sudanese Struggle for Independence” was held yesterday in Juba.

The event was organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Juba in observance of the celebration of the 11th Independence week of the Republic of South Sudan and to commemorate the two nations’ longstanding fraternal relations.

In his speech, Ambassador Nebil Mahdi said, “the relation of the two countries is neither transactional nor about the equation of diplomatic nicety, rather it is built on the socio-cultural origin and on the enduring principles which have been guarded by the priceless lives.”

He has also encouraged those who have passed through the path of struggle to write stories so that the current and coming generations will not be deprived of the real background knowledge on how the two nations are deeply intertwined.

Taban Deng Gai, Vice President of South Sudan and Chairperson of the Infrastructure Cluster, Rebecca Joshua, Chief Whip in the TNLA, Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health, SPLM/A Veterans and Youth Leaders were in attendance.

The Vice President said that the two countries share lots of commonalities and have maintained their relations through various engagements.

In this regard, he said the engagement of interconnecting the two countries by road infrastructure and environment-friendly electric energy from Ethiopia to South Sudan.

Indicating the importance of the event to the overall relationship between the two countries, the Vice President has recommended the need to carry on such events regularly.

Following the presentation by Temesgen Teshale on “Ethiopia-South Sudan People-to-people Relations and South Sudanese Struggle for Independence”, discussion continued, where various fruitful standpoints and recommendations were raised by the participants of the event.

In line with this, Rebecca Joshua, called for the writing of the existing common stories between the two People, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The narrators from the SPLM/A veterans highlighted Ethiopia as a mother of independence not only to Africa and beyond.

Urio Ajuonga, Secretary-General of the South Sudan National Youth Union, encouraged such constructive forums to continue, emphasizing as it enables the youth to learn the shared history of both countries.

Underscoring that the LAPSSET project creates job opportunities and fosters development among the countries, he appealed for focus to be given to the project.

Participants noted that consecutive Ethiopian Leaders from Emperor Haileselassie to Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, have supported and stood with South Sudan.