Salva Kiir, the President of South Sudan, participated in the Brics summit alongside other leaders ahead of the event in South Africa. This marked his inaugural diplomatic engagement at a face-to-face summit with the leaders of the Brics Bloc, composed of Russia, China, India, and South Africa. The summit, held in Johannesburg, aimed to bolster Africa’s economic standing, fostering growth and collaboration between Brics nations and African countries. This effort sought to enhance the Bloc’s influence across the continent, countering the longstanding Western dominance in the region.

In the preceding month, President Kiir had appointed Vice President for Infrastructure Gen Taban Deng Gai to represent him at the summits in Russia and Africa. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Presidential Affairs, indicated that the upcoming summit would prioritize establishing a balanced political platform among Brics member states and non-members. This initiative aligned with the overarching goal of uplifting Africa’s economic prospects. President Kiir had received a formal invitation to attend the Johannesburg event, where the Brics Bloc originally coalesced to identify investment openings and develop economic strategies aimed at benefiting the entire continent.

Recently returning from Nairobi, where he engaged with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto, President Kiir focused on cultivating robust economic partnerships to address shared challenges. During his regional tours, he actively pursued neighboring countries to invest significantly in South Sudan, thereby alleviating economic hardships faced by citizens.