India-South Sudan Relations
South Sudan was a part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, under joint British-Egyptian rule, from 1899-1955. After two civil wars (1962-72 and 1983-2005), a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between the Government of Sudan and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on 09 January 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya which led to autonomy for the South, and a South Sudanese referendum on independence in six years’ time. Consequently, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 09 July 2011, following a peaceful referendum in which 98.5 percent South Sudanese voted for independence. South Sudan is the 193rd member of the United Nations and 54th member of the African Union.
India did not take sides in the two civil wars; therefore, unlike some other countries, it carries no baggage from the past. There were sporadic informal contacts between SPLM and Indian Missions in Kampala, Nairobi, and Kinshasa in the 1980s and 1990s. When the war broke out in 1983, only a few intrepid members of the Indian community in South Sudan stayed on in Juba and other major towns while most left for the North. India has long standing relations with the people of South Sudan. In December 1975, the then President of India, Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed visited Sudan and addressed the Regional Peoples’ Assembly in Juba. Almost the entire population of Juba had turned out to welcome him. An assessment by the Embassy in Khartoum stated: “On the whole, the visit to Juba made it evident that the Southern Sudanese have deeper respect for India.”
India increased its engagement with South Sudan after the second civil war ended in 2005. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E.A. Ahamed, attended the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on 09 January 2005 in Nairobi, between the Government of Sudan and SPLM that brought peace to South Sudan. Indian Consulate in Juba was opened in October 2007, which was later upgraded to the Embassy level in March 2012. India was one of the first countries to recognize Independent South Sudan and Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari attended the Independence Day celebrations in Juba in July 2011.
Important Bilateral Visits
From the Indian side, former President Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed visited Juba (then part of Sudan) in December 1975. Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed, attended the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement between South Sudan and Sudan in Nairobi in January 2005. Subsequently, he led a multi-disciplinary delegation to South Sudan in June 2011. Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari represented India at the independence ceremony in Juba on 09 July 2011. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met President Salva Kiir Mayardit in New York on 24 September 2011on the sidelines of UN General Assembly (UNGA).The Special Envoy of India to Sudan and South Sudan visited the two countries regularly during the last two years to discuss issues of bilateral interest.An audit team from C&AG of India, led by a Joint Secretary visited South Sudan from 11th August to 5 September 2014 to conduct the audit of UN Peace Keeping Operation Mission in South Sudan(UNMISS).An MOU was also signed between Barefoot college(The Social Work and Research Centre) at Tilonia, Rajasthan and Evangelical Prebysterian Church (on behalf of Government of South Sudan) on August 18, for establishing a Regional Barefoot Training and Vocational Centre (RBTVC) in Yei province of Equatoria State, South Sudan to promote solar electrification in the villages in Yei. MEA also signed an agreement with Barefoot College for providing funds amounting to US $ 500,000.00 (Rs.2.48 crores) for establishing Regional Barefoot Training and Vocational Centre (RBTVC) in South Sudan.
From the South Sudanese side, a high level delegation from President Salva Kiir’s office led by Dr. Priscilla Joseph Kuch visited India in April 2011. Special Envoy of the President of South Sudan, Joseph Lual Achuil visited in November 2011. Former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, visited India to participate in the conference organized by the Friends of Moral Re-armament at Panchgani in January 2012. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Cooperatives, Betty Achan Ogwaro, visited in January 2012. Deputy Minister of Commerce of South Sudan, Kengen Jakor Beyo led an eight member delegation to attend the ELECRAMA Exhibition in Mumbai in January 2012 on the invitation of the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce. He visited India again in March 2013 to attend India-Africa Conclave. Chairperson of the Constituency Fund Committee of the National Assembly, Beatrice Aber Samson, led an eight-member delegation on a Study Tour of India, hosted by the Indian Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training in July 2012. South Sudanese President Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit was scheduled to visit India in August 2013, but the visit was postponed at the last minute at the request of Government of South Sudan due to disturbed political situation in the country.
Economic – Commercial Relations
Oil and Natural Gas Commission of India – Videsh Ltd. (OVL) has made an investment of around US$ 2.5 billion (spread over South Sudan and Sudan) in the hydrocarbon sector since 2003. It has 25% Participating Interest (PI) in Greater Nile Oil Project (GNOP) [Block 1, 2 and 4] in consortium with CNPC of China, Petronas of Malaysia and Sudapet of Sudan. It has 24.125% PI in Block 5A in consortium with Petronas and Sudapet. South Sudan’s estimated global imports in 2013 were US$ 1.8 billion and exports approximately US$ 3.0 billion, with Uganda and Kenya being the major trading partners. South Sudan earned US$ 3.376 through oil exports in 2014. India’s trade with South Sudan is small. As Indian trade is mainly through third countries (Kenya, UAE),precise data is not available. The main items of Indian imports from South Sudan are oil and timber and India’s exports mainly comprise of consumer and household goods, food items and pharmaceuticals.
Some Indian companies are operating in the area of construction, borehole drilling, printing, trading, and services to the oil industry. Indians also operate small hotels and a supermarket in Juba. A number of Indian companies have evinced interest in investing in South Sudan. A large Indian business delegation under the auspices of India-Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mumbai visited Juba in April 2013 on an exploratory mission and had fruitful interaction with the South Sudanese businessmen for joint ventures and collaborations.
Development Assistance Partnership
At the April 2005 Oslo Donors Conference, India announced a grant of US$10 million for infrastructure, capacity building and social sector projects such as hospitals and educational institutions in Sudan. Half of theUS$10 million grant to Sudan was allocated for construction of a hospital in South Sudan. India also offered a concessional loan of US$100 million for specific projects in the Sudan & South Sudan. In January 2008,India also donated US$100,000 worth of tents and medicines for flood affected areas to be shared between North and South Sudan.
Other development assistance initiatives include the following: (i)ICCRScholarships: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has allocated seven(7)scholarships for South Sudanese nationals for higher studies in India for the academic year 2014-15 and all scholarships have been utilized. (ii)IndianTechnical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Training Slots: Ministry of External Affairs of India has allocated 70 slots for South Sudan under the ITEC Programme for the year 2014-15.In the year(2013-14), South Sudan had utilized 75 of 80 allotted seats. (iii)Vocational Training Centre (VTC) & Rural Technology Park (RTP):The VTC and RTP are both India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) commitments. The Government of South Sudan has proposed setting up of VTC in Wau County in Western Bahr el Ghazal State. These projects are under discussion with the Government of South Sudan; (iv)Solar Electrification: A solar electrification project, implemented by Central Electronics Limited of India near Juba has drawn widespread appreciation; and (v) Pan African e-Network Project: The Agreement for the implementation of the project in South Sudan was signed in February 2012. The project is at an advanced stage of implementation
Indian Contingent in United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
India has two battalions of about 2,000 personnel in the UNMISS, deployed in two of the largest states in South Sudan – Jonglei and Upper Nile. Additionally, there is a police component of around 49 Indian Police officers who are assisting the South Sudan National Police Service in building up the police structures, and a number of civilian officials are in various other departments of UNMISS. The Indian army contingents have been undertaking several social welfare initiatives viz. holding medical camps, donating books to educational institutions, building roads etc., which have been highly appreciated by the local population. On 09 April 2013, 36 Indian soldiers who were escorting a UN convoy from Pibor to Bor in Jonglei State came under heavy attack from the rebels. One senior Indian Army officer and four soldiers got killed and four Indian soldiers were injured. Two Indian soldiers were also killed in an attack on the UN Base at Akobo (Jonglei State) on 19 December 2013. Two Indian soldiers suffered injuries during an attack on the UN Base at Bor, in Jonglei State in April 2014.
Indian community in South Sudan
Presently, there are about 500 Indian nationals in South Sudan. Some of them have set up businesses in Juba and others are working for various companies. A small number of Indian nationals also work in Christian missionary organizations in South Sudan. In addition, as mentioned above, there are 2,000 Indian army peacekeepers, 49 police officers and some civilian officials attached to UNMISS. Indians have been among the first to open hotels, borehole companies, printing press and departmental store in Juba in early 2006. Indian nationals in Juba have formed an Indian Association, whose membership is presently around 300. The Embassy maintains regular contacts with the Indian community in South Sudan and facilitates their various social projects. Athree day medical camp was organized in prominent local hospital in Juba recentlyby a private hospital in India, for the local South Sudanese community and a blood donation camp was organized in January 2014).
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India-South Sudan Relations
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