The Chinese government gave 25 million US dollars to the SPLM-Juba faction Tuesday as part of their continued partnership with Salva Kiir’s government.

Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said that the grant will be used for agriculture, noting that his government has fully cooperated with China’s expected deployment of 700 combat troops to the UN peacekeeping mission to maintain order around the country’s last functioning oil fields in Upper Nile state.

Speaking to press after handing over the money, China’s Ambassador to Juba Ma Qiang said the grant will be utilized for economic and technical projects that were agreed upon by the two governments in recent days.

“This grant will significantly strengthen the self-development ability of South Sudan and close the economic, trade and financial ties between the two countries,” Qiang said. “I think the top priority should be put to agricultural projects, so as to ease the food shortage in South Sudan.”

Qiang urged the two warring factions of the SPLA to put the nation and people’s interest first in order for peace and stability to be realized.

This latest donation comes after China gave 20,000 USD earlier this month along with tools to fight malaria.

On 1 September, South Sudan’s ministry of health received 160,000 doses of anti-malaria medicine, 5000 tents, 3000 mosquito nets, 3500 blankets, and 300 solar power kits to be used at Juba Teaching Hospital.

“Despite of the limited quantities of these drugs, it contains the friendship of the Chinese people towards the people of South Sudan and expresses the sincere desire of the Chinese Embassy in Juba to develop friendly cooperation with the South Sudanese government,” Qiang said in a press release at the time.

Health Minister Riek Gai Kok told Radio Tamazuj that 50,000 malaria cases have been registered across South Sudan in recent weeks.

“The anti-malaria drugs had arrived at the time that we are facing real crisis of malaria almost like that outbreak in the whole country. There is an overflow of wards in the ten states due to malaria and with these supports it will be on effects to treat the disease,” Gai Kok said.

Radio Tamazuj photo: China's ambassador to Juba Ma Quang (left) at the signing ceremony to hand over 25 million dollars.

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