(WASHINGTON, DC) – South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Monday Semaya K. Kumba, has concluded an official visit to Washington, DC, where he held a series of high level meetings aimed at strengthening international partnerships and securing economic support for South Sudan.
The visit, which took place on 18 July 2025, focused on bilateral engagements with key international institutions and senior policymakers. Among those the Minister met were the Vice President of the World Bank, officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and senior staff from the United States Senate.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meetings centred on financial reforms, development aid, and long-term strategies to help stabilise and rebuild South Sudan’s economy.
The visit comes at a time when South Sudan is working to overcome the combined impacts of conflict, climate challenges, and inflation. The government is pushing for reforms in public finance, transparency, and foreign investment regulations in order to improve the country’s economic resilience.
Although no specific financial figures were disclosed, discussions with the IMF and World Bank are expected to include talks around technical support, budgetary planning and debt management. These institutions play a critical role in advising South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance on fiscal policy, public financial management, and economic growth strategies.
The Ministry said the Washington visit marks a significant step in deepening South Sudan’s diplomatic and economic engagement with global partners. Foreign Minister Kumba is expected to present a detailed report of the visit to the Cabinet and President upon return.
In recent years, South Sudan has sought to reposition itself diplomatically after a decade of internal conflict. International partners have called for stability, accountability and sustained reforms as conditions for economic assistance. Engagements such as this are seen as a positive sign of South Sudan’s intention to rebuild trust with institutions that can influence global economic policies.
The meetings are expected to pave the way for follow up missions and technical assessments by World Bank and IMF experts, potentially including reviews of South Sudan’s ongoing reform programmes and areas for targeted support.
Ambassador Kumba reiterated the government’s commitment to improving public financial systems and ensuring aid is directed where it is most needed. South Sudanese officials believe that deeper cooperation with global institutions could also attract private sector investment, especially in critical sectors such as oil, agriculture, and renewable energy.
