By Charles Lotara, SSMJ Nairobi, Friday (November 8, 2024) — South Sudan’s Minister of Mining, Martin Gama Abucha, recently met with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Hassan Joho , in Nairobi to explore opportunities for collaboration between the two countries. This meeting, witnessed by Kenya's Principal Secretary for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Betsy Njagi, was held in anticipation of the upcoming Regional Forum on Mineral Value Addition and Cross-Border Trade among ICGLR member sta
By Charles Lotara, SSMJ
Nairobi, Friday (November 8, 2024) — South Sudan’s Minister of Mining, Martin Gama Abucha, recently met with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Hassan Joho , in Nairobi to explore opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.
This meeting, witnessed by Kenya's Principal Secretary for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Betsy Njagi, was held in anticipation of the upcoming Regional Forum on Mineral Value Addition and Cross-Border Trade among ICGLR member states.
The forum, set to take place in Juba from November 6–8, 2024, will draw at least 200 participants, including industry experts and high-profile guests, to discuss mining and mineral trade in the Great Lakes region.
Following their meeting, Joho expressed optimism about the potential partnership, noting that the two officials discussed a range of topics related to mining and broader economic cooperation between Kenya and South Sudan.
“I was pleased to host my counterpart, the Minister for Mining from South Sudan, Hon. Martin Gama Abucha, at my office in Nairobi. We discussed a wide range of issues touching on the mining sector as well as other matters of mutual interest to our two countries,” Joho stated in a post-meeting update on social media.
Kenya, with its abundant natural resources—including gold, iron, titanium, and gemstones—is recognized as one of East Africa’s regional leaders in mining.
It also boasts the largest cement production operation in East Africa, with Bamburi Cement ’s plant in Mombasa being the second-largest cement facility in sub-Saharan Africa.
Relatively developed infrastructure and favorable investment conditions support Kenya's more established mining sector, attracting both local and foreign investors to participate in mineral extraction and production.
In contrast, South Sudan’s mining sector remains underdeveloped, despite the country's rich deposits of gold, copper, zinc, lead, manganese, iron, silver, tin, tungsten, chromium, and rare earth elements.
Under Abucha's leadership, the country's Ministry of Mining has been actively seeking partnerships and investments to unlock this mineral wealth.
However, infrastructure gaps, limited funding, and the lingering effects of years of political instability have hampered development in South Sudan's mining sector.
Challenges in accessing capital and attracting the necessary expertise to modernize the industry have hindered the country's potential for diversification into mineral extraction, despite its reputation as the region's largest oil producer.
The upcoming forum in Juba represents a significant opportunity for South Sudan to engage with regional and international stakeholders, leveraging the event as a platform to attract investment and technical expertise that could help modernize its mining sector.
Kenya’s willingness to partner with South Sudan in mining could provide a model for cooperative resource development, particularly in addressing shared challenges such as cross-border trade, infrastructure constraints, and regulatory alignment.
Collaboration with Kenya also opens a pathway for South Sudan to learn from a more mature mining sector in areas like mineral value addition, which can enhance the economic value derived from raw mineral resources before they are exported.
South Sudan’s pursuit of partners aligns with its broader strategy to diversify its economy away from oil dependence. With untapped deposits of industrial materials such as marble, limestone, dolomite, kaolin, clay, and asbestos, the country has significant potential to expand its mining sector if it can attract the necessary investment and technology.
However, these ambitions face structural hurdles. South Sudan’s mining sector currently suffers from inadequate road and transportation networks, making it difficult to reach and exploit mineral-rich areas.
Funding constraints and political risks further complicate efforts to develop this sector, posing challenges that require sustained international engagement and investment to overcome.
For South Sudan, forming partnerships with neighboring countries like Kenya not only provides technical and financial support but also creates avenues for knowledge sharing and capacity building. Joho’s expressed interest in advancing diplomatic ties with Juba may signal Kenya’s recognition of South Sudan as a viable trade and investment partner.
Kenya already plays a major role in East Africa’s cement production and resource extraction; it can offer insights into building regulatory frameworks and attracting investment, both of which South Sudan urgently needs to establish a viable mining sector.
With regional stakeholders converging in Juba for the ICGLR forum, the focus will likely center on how member states can collectively address the structural issues facing the mining sector.
South Sudan stands to benefit from these discussions by highlighting the steps it has taken to promote investment while candidly addressing the obstacles it continues to face.
Abucha’s efforts to secure partnerships and Joho’s receptiveness to dialogue signal a shared interest in creating a more integrated and economically resilient region.
As the youngest nation in the region, South Sudan's journey toward a developed mining industry remains fraught with challenges. However, officials such as Abucha have demonstrated a commitment to overcoming these obstacles through their proactive approach.
Collaborative efforts with Kenya and other regional players could pave the way for more sustainable economic growth, supporting South Sudan’s long-term vision of becoming a diversified economy less dependent on oil exports.
The Regional Forum on Mineral Value Addition and Cross-Border Trade offers South Sudan a pivotal stage to showcase its potential while inviting regional and international partners to play a role in the country’s mining future.