Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the relationship between Ethiopia and South Sudan as “enduring” as he welcomed his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir Mayardit, for a two-day official visit.
“The visit underscores the strong and enduring ties between our two nations,” Abiy stated in a Facebook post. President Salva Kiir’s office echoed this sentiment, noting that Kiir and Prime Minister Abiy would deliberate on further strengthening ties between Addis Ababa and Juba.
Historically, Ethiopia’s Derg regime backed the South Sudanese war of independence in response to Sudan’s support for TPLF rebels in northern Ethiopia. In 2011, South Sudan became the youngest nation in Africa after declaring its independence from Sudan.
However, the celebrations were short-lived. A year later, South Sudan entered a new cycle of war that pitted citizens against one another, dividing the people along ethnic lines.
Once again, Ethiopia then led by the EPRDF regime made every effort to bring about a lasting resolution to the conflict. It hosted marathon talks between President Kiir and his arch-rival, Riek Machar, including the September 2018 “Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS)” that formally ended the civil war. However, tensions resurfaced after Kiir ordered the arrest of Machar in March 2025.
Despite these challenges, Ethiopia and South Sudan have enjoyed strong relations, with South Sudan earning Ethiopia’s trust as a mediator in its border dispute with Sudan.
