The governments of South Sudan and Sweden on Wednesday reaffirmed their continued commitment to maintain strong diplomatic ties despite the closure of the latter’s office in Juba.
The Government of Sweden officially closed its office in Juba on Tuesday, 13 August 2024. The decision was part of Sweden’s reform agenda to reshape their international cooperation efforts.
Addressing reporters at a press conference in Juba, John Samuel Bugo, Undersecretary at South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the Swedish government shut down most of their embassies in African countries, including South Sudan, due to their new policy.
“The Sweden Embassy was not an embassy as such because the embassy was based in Khartoum in 2012, and then they opened an office here in Juba after the independence of South Sudan and it was operated by one person,” he explained. “The Swedish office here had informed us earlier, more than three months ago, that they will be shutting down their embassies not only in South Sudan and I do not want to mention the other countries.”
Bugo reassured the public that Africa’s youngest nation will maintain bilateral relations with Sweden.
“If you search, you will find that they are also closing in some countries in here in Africa. Our relationship with Sweden will continue as it used to be, good and cordial,” he stated. “It is due to their situation that they are closing down some embassies and South Sudan is one of those embassies. So our relationship is there.”
Despite the closure of the office, Sweden has reassured through a statement on Tuesday that it will maintain its bilateral relations with South Sudan and “continue to support the country’s development through international financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.”