Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Minister:
Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin

Minister's Profile:

Prior to joining theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and INternational Cooperation Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin served in the same capacity in the ministries of Information and Broadcasting as well as Commerce and Industry (MCI) in the then Government of South Sudan (GOSS) up to June 2010. Previously, he was minister for Regional Cooperation (MRC) Government of South Sudan (GOSS) 2006-May 2009 Juba. He also served as the State Minister of International Cooperation, Government of National Unity, Khartoum, Sudan. 2005- 2006. He was an SPLM member in SPLM\Sudan Government Peace Talks- Nairobi 1989 and is an SPLM member of National Liberation council up to date. He is also a Member of Parliament (MP) in the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly representing the Uror South Constituency in Jonglei State.

The Minister held various positions in the liberation struggle, including serving as SPLM\ SPLA Treasurer General for SPLM- London Committee 1983-1987 and SPLM representative to Southern African Countries (SADC), Harare, Zimbabwe 1988-2005. He was also the Special envoy for the SPLM\SPLA Chairman to Southern African countries from between 1991 and 2004. He held the position of Secretary of International Relations Representing SPLM in the Executive of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), 2002-2005 and has been a member of national Liberation Council (NLC), SPLM to date.

Dr. Benjamin has professional training in medicine and diplomacy. He studied Premedical Sciences at the University of Khartoum in 1965 and graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Cairo in 1970. He studied Hygiene and Tropical medicine in the school of Tropical Medicine, London in 1983. At the Centre for African Reconnaissance (CARS), University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria South Africa in 2005, he studied Diplomacy and International Relations. He also attended the SPLM\SPLA Institute of Ideology and Strategic studies, Zink, Gambela, Ethiopia - 1984-1985. Before the Liberation struggle days he worked in various Provincial and District hospitals in Wau and Yirol. He was also a Senior Registrar in General Surgery in both Khartoum and Omdurman University Teaching Hospitals.

Functions:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation performs the following functions and duties:

• Advise the President, Council of Ministers and the Republic of South Sudan National Legislative Assembly on diplomatic issues;
• Act on behalf of RSS to establish, develop and maintain good relations and cooperation with foreign governments;
• Represent the needs and policies of the Republic of South Sudan to other nations and international organizations;
• Open and manage RSS embassies in selected countries outside South Sudan;
• Develop and coordinate plans and policies pertaining to international support for RSS;
• Undertake, in collaboration with the RSS Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and other ministries and commissions, negotiations with foreign governments and international agencies for financing agreements with donor organizations;
• In coordination with relevant implementing government authorities, follow up agreements made between the RSS and foreign governments and agencies;
• Develop and coordinate policies and programmes pertaining to international support in the field of humanitarian relief and rehabilitation;
• Receive heads of states and other foreign dignitaries and coordinate their programmes and provide protocol services while in Southn Sudan; and
• Establish and maintain a system for regular liaison meetings and reporting with foreign consulates in Juba, UN Agencies, foreign government agencies and international non-governmental organizations.

Structure:

The ministry has the following units to facilitate its mandate:

• RSS Liaison Offices at the Diaspora;
• Directorate of Administration and Finance;
• Directorate of Multilateral and International Relations;
• Directorate of Bilateral Relations;
• Directorate of Protocol and Public Relations;
• Directorate of ICT and Media;
• Directorate of Aid Coordination; and
• Directorate of Research, Training and Capacity Building.

Projects and Programs:

• Restructuring and re-organisation of the Ministry based on a report on functions and structures prepared in 2009;
• Transformation of the Ministry from a Ministry of Regional Cooperation to Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• The Ministry is currently undergoing the process of preparing a strategic plan; and
• The Ministry is in the process of creating a Foreign Policy framework.