His Excellency the President Major-General Jioji Konrote paid a courtesy call on the President of South Sudan, His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit.
This was the first visit for any Fijian Head of State to South Sudan which became an independent nation in 2011.
President Mayardit welcomed President Konrote and his delegation and took the opportunity to praise all the Fijian servicemen and women who are part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). This included the current officers and those who served in previous years.
President Mayardit expressed South Sudan''s wishes to strengthen diplomatic relations with Fiji. He is looking forward to receiving the credentials from Fiji's Ambassador in Ethiopia, Ambassador Mosese Tikoitoga, who is also accredited to South Sudan.
President Konrote thanked President Mayardit, the Government and people of South Sudan for accommodating all the Fijian servicemen and women over the years. He reassured President Mayardit that Fiji will continue to commit itself to serving humanity through peacekeeping duties in countries that needed such service.
Following the call on President Mayardit, President Konrote met and was briefed by the Special Represenrative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan, Ellen Magrethe Loj.
He also met with the Fijian servicemen and women over a talanoa session.
President Konrote is on the final leg of his visit to all of Fiji's peacekeeping troops in the Middle East and Africa.
This is the first time for any of Fiji's serving Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces to successfully complete visiting all the peacekeepers in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Egypt and South Sudan in one round of visit.
The President's visits have served to reassure the servicemen and women that the Government and the people of Fiji continue to place a high priority on their welfare. The visits also affirmed to the international community of Fiji's commitment to contributing to world peace.
The President was accompanied in his visits by the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Rear Admiral Admiral Viliame Naupoto, Ambassador Tikoitoga and the Director of the RFMF's Peacekeeping Operations Commander Humphrey Tawake. The First Lady Sarote Konrote and five support staff from the Office of the President, RFMF and the Department of Information were also part of the President's delegation.
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