By Charles Lotara, SSMJ New York, Wednesday (October 2, 2024) – As world leaders converged in New York for the 79 th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the South Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation urged the global body to back Juba and put an end to the Sudan conflict. Speaking on behalf of President Salva Kiir at the assembly held from 24 th to 30 th September 2024 under the theme "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement
By Charles Lotara, SSMJ
New York, Wednesday (October 2, 2024) – As world leaders converged in New York for the 79 th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the South Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation urged the global body to back Juba and put an end to the Sudan conflict.
Speaking on behalf of President Salva Kiir at the assembly held from 24 th to 30 th September 2024 under the theme "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations" , Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah said the conflict in neighboring countries has not only resulted in refugee crises but also contributed to economic catastrophe in South Sudan.
“It is worth mentioning that the conflict in the Republic of Sudan has directly impacted the economic situation in South Sudan, with oil production significantly reduced since April this year,” he told the annual gathering.
While there have been efforts from regional bodies like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Mr. Abdallah said the international community has done very little to restore stability in Sudan as the war between the Sudan Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces enters 18 months.
“Given the fact that our economy is entirely reliant on revenue from the sale of our crude oil transported through Port Sudan on the Red Sea, we urge the international community to double its efforts toward resolving the conflict in Sudan,” the minister implored.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, the already-faltering economy of South Sudan has further nosedived, with inflation shooting the roof. Due to skyrocketing market prices, many South Sudanese were unable to provide for their families.
The conflict also changed the environment for investment in the nation's oil sector, particularly following the Sudanese government's declaration of force majeure in March of this year and the departure of Malaysia's PETRONAS in August 2024.
In an address to the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly in late September, Marial Dongrin Ater, the Minister of Finance and Planning, noted that there has been a significant drop in oil production as a result of the conflict in Sudan, terming it a national security concern for Juba.
“The oil and gas sector's industrial output saw a 70 percent reduction in the last quarter of FY2023/2024, resulting in an estimated decline of 105,000 barrels per day mainly due to the rupture in the Dar Blend oil pipeline and the lingering impacts of severe floods on oil production from the past years.
The Ministry of Finance and Planning views the ongoing disruption of crude oil production and export as a national security matter, emphasizing the need to treat it as such.
But there have been sustained efforts by the government to resume oil production. On 16 September 2024, President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, met in Juba to discuss the resumption of oil exports through Sudan, following four months of work on the oil infrastructure.
Kiir met with Mahamoud Youssouf, Foreign Minister of Djibouti, two days later in Juba to discuss the proposed development of a new oil corridor that would connect South Sudan through Ethiopia to Djibouti, with the aim of enhancing regional economic integration.
However, Abdallah said Juba needs international backing to restore oil production, which serves as the lifeblood of the country’s economy.
“We further call for more solidarity with South Sudan as it struggles to overcome and withstand the dire economic impacts created by the conflict in Sudan,” said the minister.
The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly marked a crucial milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Summit of the Future held during UNGA 2024 underscored the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality while also tackling the impacts of global health crises and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Palestine.