South Sudan foreign minister to return to Juba after recovering from COVID-19 in Qatar

JUBA — South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mayiik Ayii Deng, along with the Minister of Investment, Dhieu Mathok Ding Wol, have both recovered from the deadly coronavirus pandemic and are scheduled to return to Juba on Tuesday, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The two men tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in the state of Qatar two weeks ago and were immediately put on quarantine along with a huge delegation comprising 40 senior government officials.

The delegation was led by South Sudan’s presidential advisor on security affairs Tut Gatluak Manimeh who has since returned to Juba, along with some members of the delegation, after he was tested twice with negative results.

In a statement on Sunday, the ministry of foreign affairs announced that Deng and Mathok have recovered and that they are returning home on Tuesday.

“This is to inform the public that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Mayiik Ayii Deng, and Minister of Investment Hon. Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing have tested negative for COVID-19 this evening in Qatar and are set to return home on Tuesday, November 23, 2021,” the foreign ministry statement reads in part.

The statement further noted that “The Ministers traveled to Qatar on 7th November 2021 as part of Advance Team ahead of the expected visit of the President of the Republic and were tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Doha.”

“The state visit was later rescheduled and the Ministers were placed under 14-day mandatory quarantine as required by COVID-19 protocol.”