New Delhi: A Parliamentary Delegation from South Sudan, led by the Speaker of the Transitional National Assembly, Jemma Nunu Kumba called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at president house on Wednesday.
Welcoming the delegation to India, the President said that India and South Sudan enjoy cordial and friendly relations. She said that India is proud to be a major troop contributor to the UN Peace keeping Missions in South Sudan. She added that apart from Peace Missions, Indian soldiers are playing an important humanitarian role, and contributing to furthering relations between the two countries.
The President said that India is determined to be a reliable development partner for South Sudan. She expressed confidence that the youth of South Sudan would take advantage of the training and capacity building opportunities provided by India’s ITEC and ICCR scholarship programmes.
The President said that South Sudan can benefit from India’s experiences in parliamentary democracy in its ongoing political process, including the drafting of a new Constitution. She further said that India would extend its full support to South Sudan in this process.
During the visit, South Sudan Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba, also met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla followed by a delegation-level bilateral meeting.
At the outset, Loksabha speaker Birla congratulated Ms. Jemma Nunu Kumba, on being elected as the first woman Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan. Speaking on India’s relationship with the African continent, Birla observed that India and Africa have had strong trade and economic ties for centuries and the long-standing trade and cultural ties and people-to-people contact have strengthened the partnership between the two countries.
Speaker Birla suggested that South Sudan can take advantage of India’s experience in conducting elections successfully given the reliability and smooth operation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in our electoral process. Also, training related to the voting system in India could be provided to officials of the Election Commission of South Sudan, including voter awareness and education, added Birla.
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
