(JERUSALEM) – Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday held diplomatic talks with South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monday Semaya Kumba, during an official visit to Jerusalem. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by Sudan’s civil war, which continues to affect South Sudan significantly.
Minister Sa’ar used the occasion to highlight what he described as the international community’s silence regarding the prolonged humanitarian crisis in Sudan and its impact on South Sudan. In a post shared on social media, he noted that despite South Sudan hosting over one million Sudanese refugees since the outbreak of war in April 2023, the country receives little global attention, recognition, or humanitarian support.
South Sudan, which is also struggling with natural disasters and localised armed conflicts, has seen its already limited resources stretched further due to the ongoing crisis across its northern border. Humanitarian data from Donare, a global crisis monitoring platform, estimates that around 9.3 million people in South Sudan — roughly two-thirds of the population — are in need of aid. Of these, approximately 2.5 million are facing urgent food insecurity as the lean season begins.
The South Sudanese refugee situation has become one of the region’s most pressing humanitarian emergencies, but it has failed to attract significant funding or policy attention from traditional donor countries or multilateral institutions.
Israel and South Sudan have maintained formal diplomatic relations since 2011, when South Sudan declared independence. In 2023, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen cooperation in agriculture, water management, and construction. Israel has also benefited from political backing from South Sudan at the United Nations, with Juba regularly abstaining from resolutions critical of Israel on the Palestinian issue.
Minister Sa’ar also thanked South Sudan for standing by Israel during its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, expressing appreciation for Juba’s diplomatic support. He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to expanding bilateral ties with South Sudan, particularly in development and humanitarian fields.
In a separate update on Tuesday, the Israeli foreign minister also revealed that he had spoken with newly appointed Philippine Foreign Secretary Tess Lazaro. Sa’ar congratulated her on her appointment and invited her to visit Israel, while also thanking her for extending a reciprocal invitation. During their conversation, he criticised international pressure campaigns against Israel, arguing that they embolden Hamas and obstruct ceasefire and hostage negotiations.