ZIMBABWE–SOUTH SUDAN DIASPORA COMMUNITY

Overview of community links, bilateral cooperation, challenges and opportunities

1. Executive Summary

The Zimbabwe–South Sudan relationship has developed around diplomatic friendship, education and skills development, and growing interest in trade, investment, research and technical cooperation. For diaspora communities, these links create opportunities for professional exchange, business partnerships, cultural activities and knowledge transfer. Zimbabwe maintains an embassy in Juba that provides consular and diaspora-related services, while South Sudan and Zimbabwe have continued to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation.

2. Background and Relationship

Zimbabwe has maintained diplomatic engagement with South Sudan since South Sudan became independent in July 2011. Official discussions have described the relationship as friendly and historically connected. In February 2025, South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reported discussions with Zimbabwe’s ambassador covering high-level exchanges, economic partnership, investment, trade and research cooperation.

3. Diaspora and Community Links

The Zimbabwean community in South Sudan includes people working, studying and living in the country. The Zimbabwe Embassy in Juba explicitly invites Zimbabweans in South Sudan to use the mission for personal and business-related matters and provides consular services such as passport, document authentication and related assistance.

There is not enough reliable, current public data to state the exact size of the Zimbabwean community in South Sudan. Accordingly, this summary avoids presenting an unverified population estimate.

4. Education and Skills Exchange

Education is one of the clearest long-standing links. South Sudanese students have studied at Zimbabwean universities, with documented cooperation involving institutions such as the University of Zimbabwe, National University of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University and Harare Institute of Technology. In 2019, reporting documented 69 South Sudanese graduates in Zimbabwe and 79 students still studying there under the relevant exchange/scholarship arrangements.

These educational connections can contribute to a wider diaspora relationship through alumni networks, professional associations, mentoring and skills transfer between Zimbabwe and South Sudan.

5. Economic, Professional and Social Relationship

• Professional networks: Zimbabwean professionals living or working in South Sudan can contribute skills and experience in sectors where their expertise is needed.
• Business links: Current bilateral discussions identify trade, investment and economic partnership as areas for further cooperation.
• Research and knowledge exchange: Both governments have identified research and exchange programmes as potential areas of deeper cooperation.
• Cultural and community ties: Diaspora associations, social networks and national celebrations can strengthen people-to-people links and cultural understanding.
• Remittances and development: Diaspora communities can support households and development initiatives through financial contributions, skills, mentoring and business investment.

6. Key Challenges

• Limited public data on the size, location, occupations and needs of the Zimbabwean community in South Sudan.
• Need for stronger coordination between diaspora members, professional groups, businesses, universities and diplomatic institutions.
• Administrative issues such as documentation, consular access and recognition of qualifications can affect mobility and professional participation.
• Economic and infrastructure constraints can make sustained business and skills-transfer initiatives difficult.
• Community activities may remain informal unless representative structures, communication channels and transparent leadership arrangements are developed.

7. Opportunities for Strengthening the Diaspora Relationship

• Create or strengthen a Zimbabwean community network in South Sudan to facilitate communication, welfare support and professional networking.
• Develop a Zimbabwe–South Sudan professional database covering educators, health professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, academics and other skilled workers who voluntarily wish to participate.
• Establish university and alumni partnerships linking South Sudanese graduates of Zimbabwean institutions with Zimbabwean professionals in South Sudan.
• Organise business forums focused on trade, investment, agriculture, education, construction, professional services and other mutually relevant sectors.
• Promote mentorship and short-term skills-transfer programmes involving Zimbabwean professionals and South Sudanese institutions.
• Maintain regular dialogue between community representatives and the Zimbabwe Embassy in Juba on consular, business and community matters.
• Encourage cultural, sporting and educational events that build people-to-people relationships without replacing formal diplomatic channels.

8. Suggested Community Engagement Framework

9. Conclusion

The Zimbabwe–South Sudan diaspora relationship can be understood as part of a wider people-to-people relationship supported by education, professional mobility, diplomacy and emerging economic cooperation. The strongest documented foundation is education and skills development, while recent official discussions indicate interest in expanding trade, investment, research and business cooperation. A more organised diaspora network could help translate these bilateral links into practical community, professional and development partnerships.

10. Selected Sources

• South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, “Strengthening Bilateral Relations between South Sudan and Zimbabwe,” 5 February 2025.
• Zimbabwe Embassy in Juba, South Sudan, official embassy information and diaspora/consular services pages.
• The Herald/Chronicle (Zimbabwe), “South Sudan lauds relations with Zim,” 23 November 2021, reporting on education exchanges and South Sudanese students in Zimbabwe.
• Sudan Tribune, “S. Sudan, Zimbabwe to deepen ties through education,” 18 September 2019.
• IOM, “Remittances and Diaspora Engagement in South Sudan,” discussing diaspora engagement and Zimbabwe’s diaspora coordination experience.