Israel and South Sudan Deepen Ties Through Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development Cooperation, MoUs and Sectoral Collaboration
In July 2023, Israel and South Sudan signed a broad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering ten sectors. These included development cooperation, education, agriculture, water, health, environmental protection and green consumption, among others.
Relations between the two countries go back decades. In 2012, Israel supported South Sudan with water infrastructure projects, including desalination, irrigation, purification and the creation of a model farm using drip irrigation technologies.
Capacity Building and Internships
In July 2024, South Sudan resumed participation in Israel’s agricultural internship programme, known as “learn and earn”. Ten students from the University of Juba began training in Israel, focusing on modern agronomic methods designed to strengthen food security once they return home.
Recent Engagements in Trade, Technology and Health
In August 2025, South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, travelled to Tel Aviv for high level discussions with leaders from the Israel-Africa Chamber of Commerce and the Israel-Africa Relations Institute. The talks centred on trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, education, research and human capital development.
Humanitarian Aid Amid Crisis
During mid-2025, Israel’s Foreign Ministry, through its development arm MASHAV and the NGO IsraAID, delivered urgent humanitarian support to South Sudan in response to a severe cholera outbreak. Aid included medical supplies, water purification kits, hygiene items and food packages.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel visited Juba in August 2025 and confirmed a humanitarian package worth about 1 million Israeli shekels (around USD 296,000). The assistance targeted local intensive care units and health infrastructure.
Institutional Framework: MASHAV
MASHAV, Israel’s international development agency under the Foreign Ministry, has long played a role in strengthening bilateral relations. It specialises in capacity building through training in agriculture, health and education. To date, it has trained over 270,000 professionals from more than 132 countries.
Key Areas of Cooperation
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Agriculture: Student internships, technology transfer, and model farm projects.
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Water and Environment: Irrigation, purification, and green sector support.
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Health: Humanitarian aid, capacity building, and ICU support.
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Education and Capacity Building: Training programmes and research partnerships.
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Trade and Technology: Investment discussions on agriculture, infrastructure and energy.
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Humanitarian Assistance: Emergency relief for cholera and resource shortages.
On the Quoted Statement
A reported quote attributed to Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—regarding Gaza could not be verified in credible or official sources. Any such claims should be treated with caution and confirmed through reliable reporting.
Israel–South Sudan relations highlight a long standing partnership rooted in South Sudan’s liberation struggle. Today, this relationship is expanding into broad cooperation across agriculture, health, water, education, and trade, actively supported by institutional mechanisms and recent high-level engagement.
Malek Deng Arop is a South Sudanese policy commentator and researcher.
