JUBA – The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) on Monday marked 25 years of cooperation with discussions focused on advancing development initiatives across Africa, including South Sudan.
Diplomats, speaking during a panel discussion in Juba, reflected on progress made and the future of the partnership, following the 7th AU-EU Summit held in Angola in November 2025.
AU Deputy Head of Mission in South Sudan, Ambassador Prosper Addo, said the EU has played a central role in strengthening Africa’s healthcare systems and peacekeeping capabilities.
“The Africa-EU partnership has achieved significant progress in various areas. Health is one. If you talk about access to vaccines and improving public and maternal health, the EU has played significant roles,” Addo said.
He added that EU support through the European Development Fund has been critical in training African police and military personnel and financing peace support missions. “Talking about figures, we’ve had support of about 2.7 billion euros,” he said.
EU Ambassador-designate to South Sudan, Enarson Per, said the bloc is shifting from traditional donor support toward increased foreign direct investment targeting Africa’s private sector.
“We are now looking at a renewed, reshaped partnership based on foreign direct investment. The EU is moving over to a Global Gateway of support,” Per said.
He explained that the new approach promotes public-private partnerships aimed at boosting investment in energy, digital transformation, job creation, and education.
“This Global Gateway approach is based on mutual interest—not only a donor relationship, but a more balanced partnership where we develop together,” he added.