DEPUTY PRESIDENT PAUL MASHATILE HOLDS POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH SPLM LEADERSHIP IN JUBA

Juba, Republic of South Sudan – 8 October 2025

His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Paul Mashatile, held political consultative discussions with the leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by Secretary General, Professor Paul Logale Jumi, during his Working Visit to the Republic of South Sudan.

The SPLM delegation included Political Affairs Officer, Mr Bill Makueng Yuol; Political Training and Research official, Dr John Oryem; and External Relations Affairs Officer, Ms Angelina Maker.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of Deputy President Mashatile’s Working Visit, which aims to consolidate political efforts and deepen South Africa’s contribution to the ongoing peace process in South Sudan. The engagement is aligned with the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (RARCRSS).

Deputy President Mashatile expressed appreciation to the SPLM leadership for their hospitality and commitment to dialogue, noting the deep historical ties that underpin relations between the two liberation movements.

“I wish to thank you, Comrade Secretary General, Prof Paul Logale Jumi, and the entire leadership for finding time to meet with me and my delegation,” said Deputy President Mashatile.

“As you might be aware, Secretary General, our movements shared offices in Harare during the struggle days. Our long history provides us with potential access for deeper engagement and the ability to shape the development agenda,” he added.

South Africa and the Republic of South Sudan enjoy strong fraternal relations rooted in shared values of freedom, independence, and self-determination. These bonds, forged during the struggle for liberation, continue to form the foundation of mutual cooperation between the two nations.

South Sudan is currently advancing the implementation of its peace process under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, signed in September 2018. The agreement outlines critical milestones, including the drafting of a new constitution, transitional security arrangements, and preparations for elections scheduled for December 2026.

These milestones represent significant progress toward securing a peaceful, stable, and democratic transition in South Sudan—an effort to which South Africa remains a steadfast partner.