The 1^st Joint Ministerial Commission meeting between the Republic of South Sudan and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was held in Juba, South Sudan, from February 27^th

to March 2^nd. The main objective was to review cooperation over a broad range of interests and strengthen political, economic, social and cultural relationships and lay out mechanisms for future links between the two countries. The meeting, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Haile Mariam and South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Nhial Deng Nhial, was held under the theme of “together let us embrace our historic relations”. It was friendly and cordial with both sides expressing their understanding of each other’s views and recognizing the existing strong relationship between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam said that the meeting would enable the two countries to undertake a range of joint activities in the future, and he emphasized that Ethiopia would continue to support the ongoing development endeavors of South Sudan as it did during the liberation struggle. Foreign Minister Nhial said the two countries had established a solid foundation for their future relationship. He expressed gratitude for Ethiopia’s role in helping to bring about the peaceful separation of Sudan and South Sudan and the efforts it is currently exerting to peacefully resolve the differences and other pending post-split issues between Khartoum and Juba, including the on-going discussions on borders, citizenship, debts, oil and Abyei where Ethiopia is providing a UN peacekeeping force. South Sudan was ready to strengthen its relations with Ethiopia, he stressed.

At the conclusion of the meeting, which was preceded by extensive discussions between experts from both sides, the two countries signed eight Memoranda of Understanding to foster economic and political ties. These covered the areas of transit, exports, communications, transport, education and capacity building and included an MoU on a Joint Strategic Partnership to   promote development, peace, security and stability in the region in particular and in Africa in general. The issue of security along the adjacent border regions between Ethiopia and South Sudan was discussed. Agreement was reached to establish a joint border Administrators /Governors Commission to address matters of concern along the common border. In addition both sides underscored the need for concerted efforts to combat terrorism and work on regional and international cooperation mechanisms to defeat all terrorist groups operating in the region, posing threats to the two countries. It is expected that these agreements will be implemented within the next six months. Other areas covered in the talks included the possibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement and environmental issues as well as health, energy, science and technology.  The two parties envisaged that these Agreements and Strategic Partnership document would be the foundation for future relations and economic integration of the two nations.

The Ethiopian delegation also included the Government Communications Affairs Office Minister, Bereket Simon, the Minister of Trade, Kebede Chane, the President of Gambella Regional State, Oumod Oubang, and the President of the Southern Ethiopian Peoples State, Shiferaw Shigute as well as other officials.