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Ethiopia, South Sudan Reaffirm Commitment to Deepening Economic and Regional Cooperation

Posted on: 2026-01-14 18:31:31

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Juba — Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Timothy (PhD), held talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba this week, underscoring renewed efforts to strengthen bilateral ties with a particular emphasis on economic cooperation and regional stability.

During the meeting, Gideon conveyed a special message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) to President Kiir, reflecting Addis Ababa’s continued engagement with Juba at the highest political level. The discussions covered a broad range of bilateral and regional issues, with both sides reiterating their shared commitment to advancing the long-standing relations between the two neighbouring countries.

According to a statement from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, economic cooperation featured prominently in the deliberations. The two sides agreed on the need to prioritise trade, investment and cross-border infrastructure development as practical avenues for translating political goodwill into tangible benefits for citizens in both countries. Particular attention was given to joint infrastructure projects, including road corridors and power networks, which are viewed as critical to enhancing connectivity and supporting economic integration.

Ethiopia and South Sudan share deep historical, political and socio-economic ties, with Ethiopia playing a central role in regional diplomacy, including peace efforts in South Sudan under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). In recent years, both governments have expressed interest in shifting the focus of their engagement towards economic partnership, as South Sudan seeks to rebuild its economy and Ethiopia pursues expanded regional trade links.

Officials familiar with the discussions noted that improved transport and energy connectivity could facilitate trade flows, lower transaction costs and stimulate private sector participation on both sides of the border. Ethiopia’s growing power generation capacity and South Sudan’s infrastructure needs present potential areas for mutually beneficial cooperation, although financing and implementation remain key challenges.

The meeting comes at a time when countries in the Horn of Africa are increasingly emphasising economic diplomacy amid persistent security and humanitarian pressures. By reaffirming their commitment to closer cooperation, Addis Ababa and Juba signalled an intention to align political relations with concrete economic initiatives.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the two governments would continue consultations to follow up on the understandings reached in Juba, with the aim of accelerating joint projects and strengthening bilateral mechanisms for cooperation in the period ahead.