President Kiir Receives Credentials from Four New Ambassadors, Pledges Stronger Bilateral Cooperation

President Kiir Receives Credentials from Four New Ambassadors, Pledges Stronger Bilateral - South Sudan - Office of the President — President Kiir Receives Credentials from Four New Ambassadors, Pledges Stronger Bilateral — Official image from the Office of the President, Republic of South Sudan, as published via op.gov.ss and republished by Juba Global News Network, your trusted source for news from South Sudan and the East African region.

JUBA, August 17, 2026 — The President of the Republic, His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, on Monday received the Letters of Credence from four newly accredited ambassadors to South Sudan, marking an important step in strengthening diplomatic relations and expanding cooperation with their respective countries.

The ambassadors are H.E. Sem Ennio Maes of Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Deepak Miglani of India, H.E. Sebastian Jost Bertram of Germany, and H.E. Sitwat Nayeem of Bangladesh.

The presentation of credentials is a formal diplomatic process through which an ambassador presents the letter from their Head of State appointing them as their country’s representative. Each ambassador also presented the Letter of Recall of the predecessor and the message and greetings of their Head of State.

President Kiir welcomed the ambassadors and reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to mutual respect, sovereignty and continued engagement.

President Kiir assured all four ambassadors that South Sudan is ready to work closely with their respective governments in a spirit of mutual respect, sovereign equality, friendship and shared interest. He asked them to convey his warm greetings to their Presidents, governments and peoples, while expressing the hope that their tenure would further strengthen bilateral relations and open new opportunities for cooperation.

The ambassadors carried messages of friendship and goodwill from their respective Heads of State, while President Kiir conveyed his greetings and South Sudan’s readiness to pursue mutually beneficial cooperation.

The German Ambassador will serve on a resident basis, with the embassy operating from Juba. Germany and South Sudan have longstanding relations in peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, development, health, education and institutional strengthening. Germany is also an important destination for South Sudanese seeking specialized medical treatment, creating opportunities for further healthcare cooperation.

India will also maintain a resident diplomatic mission in Juba. Cooperation covers capacity building, healthcare, education, technology, peacekeeping and economic development. India’s experience in digital payments presents an opportunity for South Sudan to explore modern financial systems and greater financial inclusion. More than 1,500 Indian peacekeepers serve with UNMISS, reflecting India’s long-standing contribution to peace and stability.

The Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire will serve on a non-resident basis, meaning the ambassador is based in another country but remains fully accredited to South Sudan and responsible for advancing bilateral relations. Cooperation can focus on trade, investment, tourism, culture, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges.

Bangladesh will likewise maintain a non-resident diplomatic representation. Bangladesh has a long relationship with South Sudan, particularly through UN peacekeeping, and has contributed to community development and humanitarian activities. Future cooperation can expand into agriculture, health, education, ICT, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and skills development.

The ceremony marks the beginning of the ambassadors’ official engagement with South Sudan and strengthens government-to-government dialogue. President Kiir welcomed the four envoys and expressed South Sudan’s readiness to deepen relations, respect each country’s sovereignty and pursue practical cooperation that benefits all sides.