19 Aug 2023, Juba, SOUTH SUDAN – South Sudan and Kenya have taken their relations a step further following President Salva Kiir’s one-day visit to Nairobi on Saturday, during which the two countries agreed to expand bilateral relations in the areas of trade, investment and infrastructure development.
Issues pertaining to regional peace and security, especially in the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, also featured prominently during talks between President Kiir and his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, according to presidential sources.
Fighting erupted in mid April between Sudanese government forces under Gen. Abdel Fatah Al Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander in Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces.
The violence has left thousands dead and forced has forced some four million people to flee their homes, triggering a flurry of diplomatic activity and concern on the part of Sudan’s neighbours.
President Kiir and President Ruto also discussed implementing the mega Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) project, which is already underway.
However, the highlight of the visit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to install a fiber optic cable along the Eldoret-Juba road to enhance digital connectivity between Kenya and South Sudan, as well as the entire east African region.
