The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Monday Semaya K. Kumba, confirmed that the ministry formally received the appointment letter for Ms. Mary Juan Lotua, who has been named the Honorary Consul of the Federative Republic of Brazil in South Sudan.
In a statement released Monday, Mr Semaya expressed optimism about deepening the nascent ties between the two countries.
“During the ceremony, Minister Kumba extended warm greetings and best wishes to his Brazilian counterpart and conveyed regards from President Salva Kiir Mayardit to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,” read the statement.
“He [Semaya] congratulated Ms. Lotua on her appointment, highlighting Brazil’s importance to South Sudan and expressing enthusiasm for deepening ties in economic cooperation, investment, and cultural exchanges,” it added.
The statement said Ms. Lotua expressed gratitude to the Ministry for the honour of presenting her appointment letter and pledged to strengthen and advance the relationship between South Sudan and Brazil.
The appointment marks a significant step toward enhancing diplomatic and economic collaboration between the two nations.
The bilateral ties between South Sudan and Brazil are developing but relatively modest, characterised by diplomatic engagement and a shared interest in expanding cooperation.
Since the country’s independence in 2011, Brazil has expressed support for South Sudan’s development, though formal relations remain limited.
Brazil does not currently have a resident diplomatic representative, such as an ambassador or embassy, in South Sudan.
Since establishing diplomatic relations with South Sudan on July 9, 2011, Brazil has managed its relations with South Sudan primarily through its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which has been accredited to South Sudan since 2013.
The appointment of Juan as Brazil’s Honorary Consul, announced on May 12, 2025, signals a commitment to strengthen ties, particularly in economic cooperation, investment, and cultural exchanges, as emphasised by South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Monday Semaya K. Kumba.
Brazil, with its expertise in agriculture, renewable energy, and peacekeeping, offers potential for collaboration with South Sudan, which seeks to diversify its economy beyond oil amid geopolitical challenges.
However, trade and investment levels are currently low, and no major bilateral agreements or high-level state visits have been prominently recorded in recent years. Both nations engage through multilateral forums like the United Nations, where Brazil has supported peacekeeping efforts in South Sudan.
Challenges such as South Sudan’s internal conflicts and economic instability, alongside Brazil’s focus on regional priorities in Latin America, have limited deeper ties.
Nonetheless, the honorary consul’s appointment and expressed mutual interest suggest a foundation for gradual growth in diplomatic and economic relations.
