Embassy of India

Juba (South Sudan)

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India – South Sudan Bilateral Relations

South Sudan was a part of Anglo-Egyptian administered Sudan from 1899 to 1955 under joint British-Egyptian rule. After two civil wars (1955-72 and 1983-2005), it became an autonomous region (“Southern Sudan” State) within Sudan.

India's position remained neutral in the long-running civil wars for autonomy of Southern Sudan. In 2005, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed [ceremony attended by the then Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahmed] between the Government of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Nairobi which led to the autonomy for the Southern part, with a provision for South Sudanese referendum on independence in six years' time.

Following a referendum held in January 2011 South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011,. India was one of the first countries to recognize independent South Sudan and the then Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari attended the Independence Day celebrations in Juba on 9 July 2011. Indian Consulate in Juba (which was opened in October 2007) was upgraded as an Embassy in March 2012. South Sudan also opened its Embassy at New Delhi in August 2012. South Sudan and India have always enjoyed cordial and friendly relations.

Following a civil war that started in December 2013, the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed among the warring rivals in Addis Ababa on 12 September 2018. A transitional government of national unity (i.e. coalition of signatory political partners based on the power sharing formula envisaged in the Agreement) is in place at present since February 2020. The main mandate of the transitional government is to implement the R-ARCSS to hold election in December 2026 for a democratic transfer of power by February 2027.

Visits / Political Interactions

The then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met South Sudanese President H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit in New York in September 2011 on the side lines of UNGA. Gen. (Rtd) V. K. Singh, Minister of State visited Juba in July 2015, as the then Special Envoy of Prime Minister to deliver invitations to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Foreign Minister Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin for participation in 3rd India Africa Forum Summit. He again visited Juba in July 2016 to coordinate and oversee evacuation of Indian nationals when civil war was at its peak in South Sudan. Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs visited Juba during 20-22 October 2021 for bilateral talks. 

From South Sudanese side, President Salva Kiir led a high-level delegation to attend the 3rd India Africa Summit (IAFS-III) in New Delhi in October 2015. A bilateral interaction of the President Kiir with PM Mr Narendra Modi was also held on 30 October 2015. In March 2016 and July 2022, H.E. Dr. James Wani Igga, Vice President for Economic Cluster of Ministries participated in the CII-EXIM Bank “India-Africa Growth Partnership” Conclaves, with large delegations. The Speaker of Transitional National Legislative Assembly Jemma Nunu Kumba led an 18-member delegation including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mary Nawai Martin to New Delhi in April 2023. Hon. Dr. Jacob Maiju Korok, South Sudan’s Deputy Minister of ICT & Postal Service led the South Sudanese delegation to the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) in New Delhi during 14-24 October 2024. Another 12 member delegation from the Committee on Finance and Economic Planning (COFEP) of Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Republic of South Sudan led by the Chairperson of Transitional National Legislative Assembly attended a benchmarking study tour hosted by the Lok Sabha Secretariat in February 2025. Lt. Gen. Chol Thon J Balok, the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs attended Aero India held in February 2025 at Bengaluru.

A delegation of 8 Members of Parliament from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) of South Sudan led by Hon. Oliver Mori Benjamin, Chairperson of the Standing Specialized Committee on Information, Communication and Technology & Spokesperson of Parliament underwent a training course on Cyber Security for MPs in the Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi from 28 July to 1 August 2025.

Hon. Eng. Madhieu Achuil Mawien, the Acting Minister of Energy & Dams participated in the 8th Ministerial meeting of International Solar Alliance (ISA) held in Delhi during 27-29 October 2025.

Health Minister Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial visited India from 17-19 December 2025 to participate in the 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit and also attended the 13th International Health Dialogue from 30-31 January 2026 in Hyderabad as distinguished speaker.

Bilateral Institutional Mechanisms

2025. i) South Sudan Govt signed the Framework Agreement on the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in December 2025.

2025. ii) An MoU on Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) was signed between the two countries on 22 February 2019 in New Delhi. The first Foreign Office Consultations between India & South Sudan took place in Juba from 2-4 December 2025. Besides the detailed Director General level consultations during the visit, the Indian delegation led by Dr Suresh Kumar M, JS (WANA) called on H.E. James Wani Igga, Vice President and Chair of Economic Cluster; Hon. Ambassador Monday Semaya K. Kumba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Hon. Martin Abucha, Minister of Mining; Hon. Onyoti Adigo Nyikec, Minister of Livestock & Fisheries and Hon Amb Akuei Bona Malwal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The next meeting will be in India.

iii) A Letter of Association was signed between the SUDD Institute of South Sudan and the Global South Centre of Excellence of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi on 1 April, 2026 to foster joint policy research for identifying development solutions suitable to priorities of partners, capacity building and skill upgradation through appropriate training, sharing of expertise and facilitate promotion of science and technology. 

Bilateral Trade

The main items of Indian imports from South Sudan are oil and timber, whereas India's exports mainly comprise of consumer and household goods, food items, pharmaceuticals, motor cycles and three-wheelers. As the trade is mainly through third countries (Uganda, Kenya, UAE), precise data of the same is not available. Bilateral trade figures with South Sudan over the last three years (from Department of Commerce of India website), are as follows:

                                                                (In million US$)

* Data available for period April 2025 - January 2026 only.

Economic and Commercial Relations

ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) has made an investment of about US$ 2.0 billion (spread over Sudan and South Sudan) in the hydrocarbon sector since 2003. Over 90% of South Sudan’s budget funding comes from its oil revenues. Production of crude oil was, however, disrupted from December 2013 due to outbreak of civil war in the country, further deteriorating the economy. Since September  2018, oil production got revived at a minimal level of 150,000 bpd. However, after damage to one of the two oil pipelines in Sudan in February 2024, 65% of the oil production stopped. Since January 2025 oil production has partially resumed and is presently around 100,000 bpd. 

A few Indian companies/companies where majority share is owned by Indians have presence in South Sudan in different fields, like hotel industry, construction, borehole drilling, printing, retail trading, supplier to UN agencies and oil industry-related services. Indians also run supermarkets and restaurants in Juba.

Capacity building

ITEC : India is currently offering South Sudan 180 slots annually under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training programme for capacity building. Around 1,600 South Sudanese have attended ITEC training courses in India since 2013. As part of the programme, a lady diplomat Ms. Adiang from the local Foreign office did a yoga training course for three months at Bengaluru, thus becoming the first India trained yoga teacher in the country.

ICCR Scholarships: Since 2013-2024, over 175 South Sudanese students have been granted ICCR scholarships. Given the high demand and popularity of courses offered under ICCR, scholarship slots for South Sudan has been enhanced from 20 to 30 from 2023-24, to 35 in 2025-26 and to 40 in 2026-27.

Police Training Courses: 50 officers of South Sudan Police Force attended specialized courses in India in 2018 and 2019.

Training at SSIFS: In 2016, under country specific programme, 15 diplomats of South Sudan Foreign Ministry attended a specialized course at Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), New Delhi. In May 2022, 31 South Sudanese diplomats were trained. In December 2024, 15 more diplomats attended the specialized course. 10 Diplomats from South Sudan again attended the course at the SSIFS from 4-13 August 2025 as part of 1st Special Course for diplomats from Eritrea, Libya, Somalia and South Sudan and 25 more Diplomats/Officers from South Sudan were provided a special Protocol Training Module from 2-7 February 2026.

A total of 106 South Sudanese diplomats have been trained in India so far. 

Courses under IAFS-III scholarship: A total of 43 slots have been availed of by South Sudan officials who attended different capacity building and Post graduation courses since 2017.

Pan Africa E-network/e-VBAB: An MoU has been signed on 7 July 2022 between TCIL and Government of South Sudan for online training in education (e Vidya Bharti or e-VB) and health (e-Arogya Bharti or e-AB) as part of Pan Africa e Network (IAFS-III, 2015).   Over 185 students have enrolled for different courses under eVBAB.

India-UN for the Global South partnership: On October 31, 2025, a significant milestone was achieved with the formal launch of the India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative in South Sudan. This initiative focuses on sharing India's development innovations with countries in the Global South, aligned with their national priorities. As such, a 26 member delegation from South Sudan visited India from December 2-12, 2025 to pursue a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme under this Initiative. The course was conducted at the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBD), Noida under the ITEC programme of India. The programme was also attended by Hon. Kyuok Abol Kyuok, Minister of General Education and Instructions; Hon. James Hoth Mai, Minister of Labour; Hon. Modut Biar, Minister of Higher Education Science & Technology and Mr. Kachuol Mabil Piok, Undersecretary in the Ministry of General Education and Instructions.

IBSA Projects in South Sudan

2025. i) Empowering Women and Youth to Drive Sustainable Agriculture (EWYSA) : The EWYSA project was officially launched in South Sudan in August 2025. The USD 1 million initiative funded by the India, Brazil and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA) Fund through South-South Cooperation, aims to improve food security, employment and income for women and youth in South Sudan while strengthening their resilience to climate change. Its main objective is to build the capacity of women and young farmers in vegetable production by removing barriers to quality seeds, tools, technology and finance and by linking them to markets and extension support. The project targeted about 1,200 beneficiaries across three villages with approximately 60 percent women and focused on strengthening sustainable agricultural livelihoods and community development.

1. ii) Scaling Solar Applications for Agriculture Use: Launched under the South-South cooperation initiative for scaling up the use of solar-powered water pumps and supported by the India, Brazil and South Africa  Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA) Fund and implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) the project is a major step toward climate-resilient agriculture. The project is helping smallholder farmers in South Sudan gain access to clean, affordable energy for irrigation, the project is transforming lives by replacing costly, fuel-based irrigation systems with sustainable solar technologies.  

Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief

In 2008, India donated USD 100,000 worth of tents and medicines for flood victims to be shared between Sudan and South Sudan. In February 2020, a consignment of life saving drugs worth approx. USD 100,000 was donated to the flood affected people of South Sudan. In December 2020, Government of India donated 70 Metric Tons of food aid consisting of wheat flour, rice and sugar to the flood affected people of South Sudan (USD 55,000).  In April, 2021, Government of India gifted 6 Metric Tons of life-saving essential medicines to South Sudan (USD 118,000).

Other Bilateral Assistance projects

The following Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) have been undertaken so far:

(i) India Provided four hand pumps at Mangalla Internally Displaced Persons Camp in June 2022 (at the cost of USD 45,900 approx.).

(ii) A 6-week Artificial Limbs (Jaipur Foot) Fitment Camp was also organized by MEA at Juba Military Hospital at the cost of USD 180,000 approx. in June-July 2022.

(iii) Construction of an observatory for a seismic station (under Ministry of Mining/Geological Society of South Sudan) at Kolye West Village, Rajaf Payam, Juba, at the cost of USD 49,000  approx., the project commenced in November 2024 and the main construction work has been completed. 

(iv) Renovation of South Sudan Learning Center (SSLC) under the Ministry of ICT & Postal Services of South Sudan, at the cost of USD 14,000 approx. The project commenced in December 2024 and is ready for handover.

(v) The Embassy provided veterinary medicines worth USD 17,000 approx. to Indian peacekeepers in UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)  in 2024–25 and again in 2025–26. The medicines were distributed at veterinary aid camps organized through Indian Peacekeepers of UNMISS. The initiative provided vital support to local communities. 

Cooperation in Healthcare Sector

Given the top class but affordable medical facilities in India, South Sudanese prefer to travel to India to address their health issues. The number of medical visas issued to South Sudanese nationals have been steadily increasing. In this regard, some India-based medical tourism promoting agencies have also been facilitating their clients to get best treatment at hospitals in Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad etc. 2,556 medical visas were issued by the Embassy during the calendar year 2025. 

Cultural Interaction

An India Corner was opened at the University of Juba on January 17, 2020. It has a large collection of books on India and serves as a valuable resource for the university's students.

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) sponsored cultural troupe visited South Sudan in 2016 & 2017 and performed in Juba. In 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025 and 2026 traditional dance groups from South Sudan participated at the International Arts and Crafts Mela in Surajkund.

From University of Juba, Prof John Akec, Vice Chancellor and Dr. Biong Kuol Deng, Dean-School of Law, visited India in August 2018 and in October 2023, respectively, under the Academic Visitors Programme (AVP), sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Hon’ble Atem Garang Deng Dekuek, Member of Parliament, visited India in January 2023, under Distinguished Visitors Programme (AVP), sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

In July 2024, the Director General of the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Mr. Makuar Dobuol Puot had visited India to attend the World Heritage Committee Meeting in Delhi.

Prof. Dr. Abraham Matoc Dhal, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, South Sudan visited India from July 26 to August 7, 2025, under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations' (ICCR) Academic Visitors Programme (AVP).

A statute of  Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at the Embassy by the Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Hon. Dr. Nadia Arop Dudi, on the historic anniversary of the Quit India Movement on 8th August, 2025. 

Indian peacekeepers in South Sudan

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) : The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was established based on a UNSC resolution in 2011. India has provided a contingent of over 2,300 defense personnel for the peacekeeping operations in South Sudan out of the total strength of around 17,000. Lt Gen Mohan Subramanian from Indian Army was the Force Commander of UNMISS from August 2022 to March 2026. His predecessor Lt. Gen. S.S. Tinaikar too was an Indian Army officer. Indian peace keepers are deployed in Juba, Bore (Jonglei State) and Malakal (Upper Nile State) Regions. The India Peacekeepers are also engaged in training of youth in various fields including repair of computers, diesel gen-sets, etc. In addition, a police component (UNPOL) of 26 Indian Police Officers is attached with UNMISS in the country. Apart from the peacekeeping operations, the Indian contingents have also been involved in community welfare activities viz. conducting veterinary camps to help the local community in taking care of their large cattle population in Bor and Malakal. 

In 2013, seven soldiers viz Lt. Col. Mahipal Singh Pilania, Warrant Officer Dharmesh Sangwan, Warrant Officer Kumar Pal Singh, Naib Subedar Shiv Kumar Pal, Havildar Heera Lal, Havildar Bharat Sasmal and Lance Naik Nandkishor Joshi of the Indian peacekeeping battalion made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of peace in two different attacks in Jonglei State. The bravery and social welfare activities of the Indian peacekeepers are highly commended both by the local population and Government of South Sudan.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA): UNISFA is a United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, an oil rich border area which is contested between Sudan and South Sudan. The area is being administered jointly by the two countries at present. UNISFA was established through UNSC Resolution in 2011. The Resolution made provision for the deployment of 4,200 Ethiopian troops to provide security and protect the civilians. From January 2022, it has become a multinational force of 3,250 military personnel, 640 police personnel and an appropriate civilian support. An Indian contingent of around 570 soldiers is also deployed in UNISFA.

Indian Community

Members of the Indian community were among the first to open hotels, borehole drilling companies, printing press and departmental stores in Juba in early 2006 after South Sudan was declared an autonomous region. Presently, around 1000 Indian nationals are based in South Sudan. Some of them have set up their businesses in Juba and others are working in various companies. A number of Indians are also working in UN organizations, Christian missionaries and in NGOs. 

There is an Indian Association of South Sudan (IASS) in Juba, which, among other activities, organizes cultural functions and charitable activities, periodic free medical and blood donation camps on certain important occasions such as India national days. Shri Sanjay Kumar Shivabhai Patel, Managing Director of JIT Supermarket chain in Juba, was conferred Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award on 10 January 2023 at the PBD Convention at Indore for business and community services.

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12 April 2026