South Sudan grants Sudanese professionals no objection work permits
October 3, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan has granted Sudanese professionals no objection work permits, citing the historical and cultural bonds between nations.
The Vice President and Service Cluster chairperson, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol announced this during Tuesday’s meeting with a group of Sudanese doctors who fled into South Sudan following the outbreak of conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15.
“I had a meeting with representatives of the Sudanese doctors here in Juba on Sunday and conveyed to them the feeling of the leadership of the transitional government of national unity and the people of South Sudan. We do not see Sudanese as different from us. We see them as part of this nation and for this reason told them to feel at home because this is their home, and should feel free to work anywhere anytime. They need no work permit in this country,” he said.
In 2012, Sudan and South Sudan signed a cooperation agreement granting citizens of both nations the freedom to reside, work, move, acquire and dispose of property without restriction and pursue economic activities in both countries.
A similar meeting was held with South Sudan’s Health minister, Yolanda Awel Deng.
The doctors expressed their readiness to work together with their South Sudanese counterparts to help improve Juba Teaching Hospital by offering to train South Sudanese doctors, in addition to exchanging experiences in the medical field.
Akol vowed to brief President Salva Kiir on the outcomes of the two meetings.
For her part, however, the Health minister said her ministry would tirelessly work to issue work permits to Sudanese doctors to enable them work in South Sudan.
She described Sudanese doctors as “being the best in the region and the entire world”, adding that people in South Sudan preferred to get treatment in Sudan.
The Medical Board at Ahfad University for Women chairperson, Hussein Awad vowed to work with South Sudanese to improve medical conditions in the country.
Awad, who spoke on behalf of the Sudanese doctors, further said they intend to establish to training center to train South Sudanese doctors in all medical fields.
(ST)