Juba, November 13, 2024 (MFA&IC) – The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah Goc, held a productive meeting with Mr. Franz Celestin, the Regional Director for East, Horn, and Southern Africa of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to discuss the organization’s vital operations in South Sudan.
Minister Goc expressed his gratitude for IOM’s support, particularly for the recent repatriation of approximately 21 South Sudanese nationals who had been stranded in Eritrea. He also emphasized the ongoing crisis in Sudan and its repercussions on South Sudan, which is currently hosting over one million people who fled the war. He urged IOM to consider extending assistance to vulnerable Sudanese refugees residing in Juba.
Mr. Celestin praised the strong partnership between IOM and the South Sudanese government. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the Sudan crisis and recognized South Sudan’s generosity in hosting affected populations. He informed the Minister about IOM’s collaboration with UNHCR to support refugees and returnees from Sudan and advocated for greater international attention to the crisis. He commended the Government of South Sudan for its exemplary partnership and reaffirmed IOM’s commitment to continued collaboration with all relevant Ministries.
The discussion also focused on regional integration, with Minister Goc asserting South Sudan’s leadership in implementing the East African Treaty, which facilitates the free movement of East African nationals and goods, as well as granting East African nationals the right to work within the country. Both parties committed to encouraging other East African Community Member States to adopt similar practices and to further strengthen their collaborative efforts.
