Canada-South Sudan relations
On this page
- Bilateral relations
- Trade relations
- International assistance
- Peace and security
- Partnerships and organizations
Bilateral relations
Canada established diplomatic relations with the Republic of South Sudan following the country’s independence on July 9, 2011, and opened a bilateral office the same year. In September 2014, Canada announced the establishment of a diplomatic mission in Juba, appointing its first resident Ambassador in January 2015. South Sudan is represented in Canada by its Embassy based in Washington, D.C.
Canada supports regional and international mediation efforts towards a peaceful and sustainable resolution of conflict in South Sudan. Canadian government representatives have worked to support peace and development, including through early recovery programming, peacekeeping and peace building, and diplomatic efforts to lay the foundation for sustainable development. In addition, Canada provides humanitarian assistance to address the immediate needs of conflict-affected people.
Canada is engaged at multiple levels in the country’s political process for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Canada co-represents the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Partners Forum at the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the principal oversight body established under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Trade relations
In 2023, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and South Sudan totaled $2.5M. Canadian exports were valued $2.4M in 2023 (up 14% from 2022), led by aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts. Canadian imports were valued at $83.6K and were led by consumer goods. Export Development Canada (EDC) is open to business opportunities in South Sudan, but only on a highly restricted and case-by-case basis.
Canadian companies active in, or interested in, doing business in South Sudan must ensure they act in accordance with Canadian sanctions. South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum (MoP) launched the country’s first-ever oil and gas licensing round in June 2021 and held a second round in 2023, which could provide opportunities to increase commercial opportunities.
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International assistance
Canada has provided over $1.1 billion in international assistance to South Sudan since 2011, with support covering development programming, humanitarian assistance, and programming to support peace and security. In 2022-2023, Canada provided a total of $136.35 M in international assistance, making South Sudan the 13th largest recipient of Canadian aid. Of this amount, $54.35 M in bilateral development programming was provided to support investments in health, education, food security and inclusive governance. Canada’s international assistance seeks to take a feminist, conflict-sensitive, human rights-based and triple nexus approach.
Bilaterally, Canada is a leading donor in the health sector, focusing on improving basic health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, training health workers, and promoting the rights of women and girls. Canada is also supporting food security and agricultural development initiatives, improving girls’ education and learning outcomes and the area of inclusive governance, with a particular focus on women and girls.
Canada’s gender-responsive humanitarian assistance helps meet the life-saving needs of vulnerable populations in South Sudan, including people displaced or otherwise impacted by the crisis in Sudan. This funding is delivered through experienced humanitarian partners, such as the UN, Red Cross and other NGO partners, and supports the provision of emergency food, nutrition, health, shelter, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene and other essential services.
Peace and security
Canada has been contributing to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), through uniformed peacekeepers (CAF) and via assessed contributions to peacekeeping missions annually since the inception of the mission in 2011, to consolidate peace and security and help establish conditions for development.
Since 2016, the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program has invested over $25.4 M to support country-specific programming aimed at promoting peace in South Sudan. Peace and security programming has focused on supporting the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and broadening the agreement’s inclusivity by strengthening the capacity of local communities to prevent and mitigate violence. Additional programming focuses on countering the negative effects of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech on local conflict dynamics, as part of the broader suite of Canadian investments aimed at supporting an enabling environment for the planned 2024 election in South Sudan.
This country specific support is complemented by our global partnerships, the most significant of which is through the Peacebuilding Fund, with $29M active peacebuilding initiatives in South Sudan.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and South Sudan work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
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