Vice President Bol Mel Returns from UAE with Promising Gains for South Sudan
Juba, South Sudan | 17 August 2025
Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel has returned to Juba following a three-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he spearheaded efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and attract new investments for South Sudan.
Dr. Bol Mel and his delegation were received at Juba International Airport by top government officials, including the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater; the Minister of Mining, Maj. Gen. Martin Abucha Gama; and the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Onyoti Adigo Nyikec.
Addressing the press, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Monday Semaya Kumba, hailed the mission as a major success, describing it as a continuation of the groundwork laid by President Salva Kiir Mayardit during his own recent visits to the UAE. He noted that the engagements had strengthened diplomatic ties and opened “new avenues of cooperation that are starting to bear fruit for the people of South Sudan.”
A highlight of the Vice President’s trip was the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding between the Bank of South Sudan and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates. Officials described the agreement as a turning point that will reshape the country’s financial and economic outlook.
In addition, Dr. Bol Mel held a series of high-level meetings with UAE leaders aimed at unlocking new investment opportunities, creating jobs, and building local capacity.
Returning to Juba with what officials called “renewed energy,” Vice President Bol Mel pledged to ensure that the outcomes of the visit are translated into tangible progress that benefits all South Sudanese.
