Djibouti has proposed an alternative port for South Sudan’s oil exports, highlighting the risks of depending on a single route, according to a statement from the South Sudanese government.
Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahamoud Youssouf, presented the proposal during a meeting with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir in Juba on Wednesday. Youssouf underscored the potential advantages of establishing a new oil corridor linking South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, stressing its potential to enhance regional economic integration.
Youssouf also voiced Djibouti’s support for lifting sanctions against South Sudan, emphasizing the critical role of economic development in promoting regional stability. South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ramadan Mohamed Goc, confirmed receiving a special message from Djibouti’s President Ismail Omer Guelleh, which reaffirmed his commitment to peace and stability in the region.
Currently, South Sudan exports its oil through a pipeline that runs through Sudan. However, ongoing conflict in Sudan has disrupted oil flows and hindered economic activities. Djibouti’s proposal offers South Sudan an opportunity to diversify its oil export routes, reducing its dependence on a single transit country.
