South Sudan’s foreign minister Deng Alor said they have requested $1.9 billion from China to develop key oil fields that have been affected by the civil war and other developmental projects in the country.
The Chinese government had pledged $60 billion US dollars to boost development in Africa during the China-Africa summit meeting in South Africa last year.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival from China on Tuesday, Deng Alor said South Sudan had proposed its priorities to the Chinese government, saying the Chinese funds will be paid in phases.
Deng pointed out that his delegation invited the Chinese companies to invest in the oil sector in South Sudan. The South Sudanese diplomat added that they also assured the Chinese government of protection to its nationals who are working in South Sudan.
The appeal for loans comes after the South Sudanese government accounted that inflation has increase more than 600 percent in the past year.
File photo: Deng Alor