Agnes Oswaha is a hardworking, dynamic, intelligent and hardworking South Sudanese woman who has defied all odds to rise above the ceiling of South Sudan trailblazers.
Agnes Oswaha, who is the current South Sudan ambassador to the United Kingdom, was recently awarded a prestigious award by the Diplomatic Magazine as the Africa Diplomat of the Year.
As the South Sudan ambassador to the United Kingdom, Agnes says despite the many hurdles she faced as a former refugee, she has managed to push herself to where she is now.
In the excerpt below, Radio Tamazuj exclusively interviewed Agnes about her life, education, and her role as a diplomat in the UK, including issues to do with women’s leadership:
Q: Can you kindly introduce yourself to our readers and listeners?
A: Thank you so much, Radio Tamazuj, for the opportunity. I am Agnes Oswaha, the South Sudan ambassador to the United Kingdom, and I am so delighted to be in this interview.
Q: Where were you born; how did you grow up?
A: I was born in Torit and I grew up in Khartoum. I was taken around the age of four to Khartoum, Sudan, where I went to school and was able to study law at the Neelain University, and from there, I was able to study at the University of Washington in the United States in Seattle, where I was able to do another bachelor degree as well as my master’s degree.
Q: How was your high school experience in Khartoum before you moved to the UK?
The high school experience was wonderful. I was in a girls’ school. I studied at Comboni School –It was a fulfilling high school experience. Of course, you know, the Comboni school is a Catholic school, so basically guided by Christian values, although by then, I grew up in Sudan when it was still one. And as a South Sudanese, I was subjected to continuous discrimination; however, I made it to the extent that I made it to law school at Neelain University, studying Sharia law.
So, at Neelain University, of course, with the Sudan system, you finish high school, you get college admission, and you go directly to your area of speciality so while being at Neelain studying law, I was passionate about criminal law and then when I moved to the US, I did law, society, and justice with a double measure in political science. Then I did my Master’s in Social Work and social justice with a concentration on community integration, service, and policy making.
I also have a background in conflict resolution in addition to the negotiations here. I was able to travel to the U.S. in 1998. At Al Neelain University, I did not graduate because the educational system was interrupted by continuous demonstrations and continuous closure of the university.
Q: When exactly were you promoted to a full ambassador?
I was promoted, or I was appointed as an ambassador on March 8, 2012, when the Republic of South Sudan appointed a team of ambassadors for the nation.
By then, I was the acting Permanent Representative for the United Nations, representing the Republic of South Sudan, and I worked with the regional cooperation posted in our mission by the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the United States and the United Nations.
Q: You recently received the 2023 African Diplomats of the Year award from the diplomatic magazine, recognizing your outstanding work and achievements in improving South Sudan as a country. Maybe you can just talk to us a little bit about that award and how you felt.
A: I am humbled to be voted by my peers. So, it’s an award done by Diplomat magazine here in the United Kingdom, a yearly award so, and the heads of mission accredited to the Court of St James’s are the ones to do the voting.
So, there are it’s done by continent or by region and I received the one for Africa, meaning I received the most votes to be the diplomat of the year from Africa.
Q: Why do you think you got the most votes than other African diplomats?
A: According to the description that was given that I’m dynamic, intelligent, and hardworking but I believe it’s, it’s not me as a person, but it’s our collective efforts as the Republic of South Sudan Embassy in London.
We have worked so hard to advance our mandate as well as to let the United Kingdom know about the Republic of South Sudan and not only the bilateral relations but also the multilateral relations here in the UK as well as engaging with other embassies and being proactive in different groups. So basically, is a collective effort. Of course, I’m the head of mission, but I received the award as the award for the embassy.
I received the award as the award for the Embassy and it brought more excitement to me and has renewed my unwavering commitment to serving the nation and advancing the foreign policy of the Republic of South Sudan here in the United Kingdom as well, as you know, leading by excellence.
I am a kind person. I believe in what I do. I believe in doing my part and I want to thank my dearest parents, who are my direct inspiration for my hard work and good values.
I dedicated my award to the people of the Republic of South Sudan, to the government and the people of the Republic of South Sudan, and especially those who have sacrificed all that they could for us to have a nation.
So, the award itself was very emotional for me as a person who has, you know, witnessed the birth of South Sudan and participated in the advocacy processes in the regional government and to where we are now.
Q: UK being at the centre of the South Sudan peace process and, of course, part of the Troika, what is your view on the current transitional period of the peace agreement?
A: So, the transitional period has been extended by two years, by another two years, which is 24 months, and with a concrete road map with a benchmark that we are supposed to achieve, leading to the election and a peaceful transition of power.
So as the people of the Republic of South Sudan, we aspire to hold a free and fair election such as what we witnessed during the referendum. So, as the people of the Republic of South Sudan, we have experience in elections.
We participated in the election of April 2010, the Sudan general election, as well as the referendum, and they were credible and witnessed by the international community, so of course, South Sudan has already been through, you know, previous elections.
Q: Do you think South Sudan is ready to have elections come 2024?
A: We are ready to hold the election comes 2024; we are hoping to have it in December of 2024 so that on February 22nd, 2025, we can have a new government.
Q: But we still see a lot of pending issues from both sides that need to be implemented. We don’t know how you oversee some of these pending issues that need to be accommodated before the election.
And that’s why we have the road map, the transitional road map. It is dedicated to addressing the pending issues such as the Unified Forces and their deployment and as you’re aware, we have already graduated the first batch and it includes the census, it includes the permanent constitution process and the election commission, and you know, modalities that will lead to holding the election.
And even with the census we already started, as you’re aware, the statistics Bureau has carried out the pilot project, and at least now we know the estimate of the population. But yet, we are committed to holding the census to carry out the census.
Sometimes it is not absolute to have things 100%. It is the wheel and the drive to have a smooth transition and to give the people of the Republic of South Sudan the ability to elect their leaders.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced as an ambassador to the UK?
A: The biggest challenge that I have faced is the perspective of the Republic of South Sudan. Usually, you know it’s negative what is covered by most of the media or when you Google South Sudan and most of it doesn’t reflect what is in the Republic of South Sudan.
So as the ambassador or the embassy here, our role also is to project the real image on the ground and to encourage those who are interested in studying or in writing about the nation to visit South Sudan, to interact with the people of South Sudan and also encouraging South Sudan is in diaspora, especially those here in the United Kingdom to cross-check information, you read something on media or social media, you make a phone call to people on the ground to be able to cross-check the information.
So, the main challenge is the media narrative, so if you say the main challenge is the media narrative.
Q: You mean misinformation?
A: It is misinformation, yes. Or misinterpretation, and you know, people frame things based on their interests. So, this is what is hampering what is happening in the country, yeah. It doesn’t project the accuracy of what is happening on the ground.
Q: How has the embassy helped to change the narrative of how the diaspora or how other nations look at South Sudan?
A: Yeah, we do. We reach out to the diaspora. For example, if there is a South Sudanese community event, I try for someone from the embassy to be present and if given a chance, we’ll give updates about what is happening in the country, engaging with media, such as what we are doing today, as well as producing press releases. For example, if there is something major happening in the country, we make sure that it’s on our media outlets.
So basically, being proactive and being able to disseminate accurate information.
Q: You previously mentioned the particular historical relationship between the UK and South Sudan. So how will you describe the bilateral and multilateral relationship between South Sudan and the UK?
A: The bilateral relations, I would say it’s good but we push for it to be stronger concerning the multilateral, for instance, at the United Nations, I believe you are aware that South Sudan, the UN Security Council, has imposed sanctions, targeted sanctions and has imposed arms embargo so, these are part of the negative that is being imposed on the country, given on what South Sudan is trying to achieve.
Concerning the multilateral relations, of course, like for instance, at the UN, it’s done by voting, but come on, the P5, they have the power of veto, so any of them could veto for South Sudan, for instance, you have the United States, who is the pen holder for the Republic of South Sudan at the UN, and you have the United Kingdom, who is the pen holder for humanitarian file in relation to South Sudan.
So, the situation is kind of complex, yeah, but of course, we have the African Union or the region and other bodies such as IGAD. Usually, you find that they have resolutions that are in support of the state of South Sudan. For example, AU before passing a resolution about the arms embargo on South Sudan that it has to be lifted.
Q: As we speak today, South Sudan has received more than 50,000 people fleeing from the conflict in Sudan. As the South Sudan ambassador to the United Kingdom, what appeal do you have to the international community regarding the Sudan crisis?
A: The government of the Republic of South Sudan, it’s gravely concerned about the unfolding situation in Sudan, which is leading to a huge humanitarian crisis. As you have noted, over 50,000 people already arrived in South Sudan.
His Excellency, President Salva Kiir, has been actively engaged with both General Al Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemedti’. He has been in communication with both of them daily, pushing and pressuring them to deescalate the hostilities for the sake of the people of Sudan, for the sake of the properties, for the sake of stability, and the sake of creating a humanitarian disaster which we are seeing now and most Sudanese are fleeing to the Republic of South Sudan because we shared the longest border, 2000 kilometres.
We have over 1,000,000 S Sudanese that was in Sudan, so now these are the returnees also fleeing back to South Sudan and we have other nationals that include Eritreans, Ethiopians, and other people from other countries. They’re all running to South Sudan for safety, so as you noted, this will be a humanitarian crisis. Therefore, we have reached out to the development partners and the international community through the Ministry of Humanitarian and Humanitarian Affairs and Design, Humanitarian and Disaster Affairs of the Republic of South Sudan to be able to Basically, we have asked for support.
Q: what is the role of South Sudanese intellectual women in the peace process?
A: OK, so before we go to that, I just want to note that the viability of Sudan is the stability of South Sudan. You know, we are linked economically, of course, I mentioned the people and if this situation in Sudan is not addressed, it will create a humanitarian crisis not only for us as the neighbours but also for the region, and we are happy that the United Kingdom and the US they’re in support of the South Sudan led initiative and as you’re aware, President Kiir was mandated by eager to be able to lead the negotiations.
So, in relation to the Intellectual Women’s Forum, I’m a member of the forum, but I haven’t been that active. But I do follow their writing and you know the celebrations that they have put to celebrating the women of South Sudan and to push for the women’s agenda, especially the implementation of the 35% quota or affirmative action, according to the transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan.
Q: 35% affirmative action, it’s yet to be realized, and we’ve seen a lot of challenges regarding women’s leadership. What do you think might be the most prominent hindrance women in South Sudan are facing in leadership?
A: You know, when you compare South Sudan as the youngest nation to other countries in terms of female representation, I think we have done well, but for us here, we want to ensure that the minimum of 35% It’s being fulfilled, whether it’s in government, private sector or even in the civil society sector to ensure that it’s being honoured so the government is trying its level best even we have a female right, honourable speaker, we have a Chief Whip, we have deputy speaker at the Council of State we have the Vice President and for the history of Sudan’s like when you look into Sudan, and you look into South Sudan, South Sudan was the first to be able to appoint a female to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense.
So, we are getting there in terms of the crucial portfolios but we also need to increase our numbers, whether it’s in Parliament to go over the 35%, whether it’s in the cabinet to go over 35% or even, like in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where I work, the numbers of the female ambassadors, it’s a few heads of mission we are only four in comparison to others stations.
The government has tried its level best so at the entry level, like when you look into the Third Secretary, Second Secretaries, and first Secretaries, the number of females has increased, or I think about 40% is female, so it is increasing, so in years to come we will be able to achieve the 50%, actually not just only 35% and that’s why it’s necessary to invest on education, and I’m pleased with you, the UK supporting the area of girls education in South Sudan with the cash grant that they’re putting and support basically in the area of education and this will help us as the people of the Republic of South Sudan, to educate more female and once they’re educated, they will be able to compete.
Q: The world marked World Press Freedom Day last week. Do you have a particular message for the media fraternity back in the country?
A: On this special day for World Press Day, I would like to thank the media community in the Republic of South Sudan, although they need more capacity. South Sudan was a nation born with weak institutions. We need to build institutions out of scratch. Where we have reached now, I think we are making significant progress; therefore, the media community in the Republic of South Sudan needs more capacity building. I urge them to carry out their work in an ethical manner, following the media authority or the media rules, as well as reporting about the nation actively and accurately.
Q: What is your last message to the leaders of South Sudanese and the citizens?
A: I want to appeal for humanitarian support for what we are faced with as a nation. I know this is a rainy season, it’s very heavily raining in the Republic of South Sudan, and we have an influx of refugees and an influx of returnees. We urge the international community to support the effort of His Excellency President Salva Kiir in trying to reach a peaceful resolution in the Republic of Sudan, and for us and the region which is the IGAD, we want the problem or the crisis in Sudan to be resolved using African solution because it’s an African problem.
So, I call upon the international community to support the president’s effort, which is mandated by IGAD and the people of South Sudan to be able to support the returnees or the refugees. These are our brothers and sisters; we can share whatever we have.
I am pleased with the humanitarian aspect of the business community in the Republic of South Sudan; it is donating its money for transportation and airlifting of the returnees and the refugees to be able to take place so they are complementing the effort of the government.