This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
Kenya and South Sudan Strengthen Trade Ties and Border Cooperation ¶
On July 1, 2019, Kenya and South Sudan reached a deal to deepen their trade ties, including a plan for Kenya to hold a trade expo in Juba in November.
As part of the agreement, Kenya has allocated land for a dry port to South Sudan at the Naivasha Special Economic Zone and for a logistics hub near the new Lamu Port.
The two countries have also agreed to set up a joint border commission for the management of their common border.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the agreements at State House, Nairobi, after bilateral talks with his visiting counterpart from South Sudan, President Salva Kiir.
"To further ease the movement of goods consigned to South Sudan, the Kenya Government has set aside 10 acres of land at the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha Industrial Park, for use as a dry port by the Government of South Sudan," said President Kenyatta.
The President also assured South Sudan that Kenya is fast-tracking the completion of the LAPSSET projects, including transnational highways, Oil Pipeline, and the Lamu Port, among others, to link the two countries.
"The first berth of the Lamu Port will be ready this August while Berths 2 and 3 are expected to be completed within the year 2020. I will invite Your Excellency, with other regional leaders, to inspect the Lamu Project in due course," said President Kenyatta.
The two leaders also discussed the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, with President Kenyatta assuring South Sudan that Kenya will use its influence to support the implementation of the peace accord.
President Kiir expressed his gratitude to President Kenyatta for the assurance, saying that the South Sudan government was happy with the commitment.
The agreements were signed by Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma and South Sudan Minister for Foreign Affairs Nhial Deng Nhial.
