Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security RSS

04/09/2026

Government Vows to Protect Farmers as Drought Threatens the country’s Food Security

Juba,Thursday 3-9-2026 In a decisive response to the escalating dry season and mounting food security threats, National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Clement Juma Mbugoniwia and Ramanathan Balakrishnan, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, agreed to work jointly to address the the escalating dry season across the country.

The collaborative effort aims to address the severe challenges posed by the ongoing dry season, which has placed significant strain on the country's agricultural sector and food production capacity.

Following the high level discussions, Deputy Minister Lily Albino Akol addressed the media, reaffirming the government's steadfast commitment to tackling the drought crisis.

The joint initiative is expected to mobilize resources and coordinate emergency response efforts between government agencies and UN partners, focusing on mitigating the impact of the dry season on vulnerable communities and safeguarding agricultural livelihoods across the country.

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Office of the Minister- Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security RSS

04/09/2026

Ministry of Agriculture and WFP Forge Path Forward as Drought Threatens Food Security

The National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Clement Juma Mbugoniwia, has convened a series of high-level meetings with international partners to address the severe drought risks facing South Sudan, as the country braces for what experts warn could be a critical food security crisis.

During a meeting with the World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director, Minister Mbugoniwia discussed the organization's ongoing operations and the mounting challenges confronting farmers across the nation. The discussions centered on the devastating shortage of rainfall and the looming drought conditions that threaten agricultural production in many parts of the country.

The WFP delegation confirmed to the Minister that they have finalized their drought modeling system, which will aid in forecasting and preparing for the worsening conditions.

Minister Mbugoniwia briefed WFP officials on his recent participation at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 conference, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He emphasized that desertification and drought were central topics at the convention, and reaffirmed South Sudan's position that these challenges require a unified global response.

"South Sudan sees drought as a global issue that must be faced jointly by the United Nations, not by countries alone," Minister Mbugoniwia stated. "This was the position of South Sudan and African countries throughout the just-concluded UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar."

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Lily Albino Akol, acknowledged WFP's strong coordination with the ministry, describing the organization as a strategic partner. She encouraged WFP to prioritize purchasing produce from local farmers, particularly those in the Renk and Aweil irrigation schemes, to support domestic agricultural production.

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Office of the Minister- Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security RSS

30/08/2026

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security , Hon. Clement Juma Mbugoniwia, has called for a unified global response to droughts and land degradation at UNCCD, COP17. In an interview with Mongolia National Broadcaster (MNB), the minister praised the host nation’s hospitality and organization, affirming that South Sudan is committed to collaborative solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

🎥 Mongolia National Broadcaster -MNB

28/08/2026

28/08/2026

Highlights form the participation of the National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Hon. Clement Juma Mbugoniwia (MP) at the 17th season of Unite Nations Convention to Combat Desertification( UNCCDC) Conference of the parties In Ulaanbaatar Mongolia.

28/08/2026

National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Calls for Collective Global Action on Drought at COP17

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia August 28, 2026 National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Clement Juma Mbugoniwia (MP), has emphasized that drought is a global crisis requiring unified international action. Speaking in a TV interview with Mongolia Television Tenger HD, the minister shared his experiences from the 17th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope."

Minister Mbugoniwia stressed that drought is not a choice but a pressing reality, reinforcing the African position that combating desertification demands collective effort. At COP17, African nations are pushing for a legally binding global protocol on drought mitigation, arguing that voluntary commitments have proven insufficient.

More is in the Following interview:::::::::::

28/08/2026

African Ministers Present United Front on Drought at COP17

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia African ministers, Deputy Ministers and representatives of the ministers delegated to the Cop 17 met with the COP17 President Battsetseg Batmunkh and. delivered a unified message that drought must be treated as a global crisis requiring coordinated international action, directly challenging a proposal led by the United States that would frame the issue as a matter of national responsibility.

The high-level meeting, held on the margins of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, saw African representatives firmly reject calls to exclude drought from any binding international agreement. Speaking on behalf of the continent, South African Deputy Minister of Forestry , Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts, conveyed to COP17 President Mongolia's Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh, that African nations view drought as a collective challenge that transcends borders. Saying that Drought is not a choice, and there is an urgent need for all nations to work jointly toward combating it.

The South African official stated, while also emphasizing the importance of following through on resolutions adopted at COP16 in Saudi Arabia.

The African position stands in direct opposition to a proposal backed by the United States and several other countries, which maintains that drought response should remain a national prerogative, with each country addressing it according to its own priorities and strategies. This camp argues against the creation of any legally binding document that would compel nations to collaborate on desertification and drought mitigation efforts.

COP17 President assured the African ministers that their position would be forwarded to negotiators currently engaged in the complex talks. The official pledged to ensure that the continent's voice would be heard in the ongoing deliberations.

During the meeting, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Clement Juma Mbugoniwia encouraged his fellow African ministers to remain optimistic about the outcome of their engagement with the COP17 presidency. He called on the continent's technical negotiating teams to enhance coordination among themselves and maintain unity in advocating for African interests..

The division over drought's framing has emerged as one of the key fault lines at COP17, with African nations seeking concrete commitments to address what they describe as an existential threat to the continent's food security and development prospects. Developing countries have increasingly called for international solidarity mechanisms to support drought-prone regions, while wealthier nations have resisted obligations that could entail significant financial commitments.

As negotiations enter their final phase, the African group's coordinated stance appears likely to shape the outcome of discussions on one of the conference's most contentious issues.

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Office of the Minister- Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security RSS

26/08/2026

South Sudan Calls for Direct Drought Financing at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia The National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Clement Juma Mbugoniwia ,has called on the global leaders to scale up direct drought financing for fragile states as the nation grapples with a dual climate crisis of devastating floods and prolonged droughts affecting over 7 million people.

Minister Clement Made this call at the Ministerial Dialogue on Drought Resilience during the 17th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, the Convention is held under the theme “Restoring Land Restoring Hope”.

Minister Clement who’s representing South Sudan at the Convention emphasized the country's commitment to shifting from reactive emergency response to proactive systemic risk management.

He highlighted that partnerships with the UN World Food Programme had been great in providing early warning systems that combining scientific forecasting with pre arranged emergency financing.

While speaking at the convention minister, Cement showcased several innovative initiatives, including digital agriculture programs utilizing satellite analytics and offline data platforms to deliver early warnings directly to rural farmers. He also emphasized that community led land restoration projects supported by the Green Climate Fundhas been very helpful to the country.

Concretely, minister Juma, also Made three key appeals to COP17 scaling direct drought financing mechanisms for conflict affected states, investing in regional transboundary water management, and integrating indigenous pastoral knowledge with modern technology.

Restoring land is indeed restoring hope, minister Clement concluded. South Sudan remains fully committed to working with the global community to transform drought resilience from a policy intention into a lived reality for every household.

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Office of the Minister- Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security RSS

21/08/2026

THE NATIONAL Minister OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY INAUGURATED NEW OFFICE BUILDING AT THE MINISTRY FUNDED BY AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Thursday 20th August 2026 National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Clement Juma Mbugoniwia , has officially inaugurated a new office building for the Single Project Coordination Unit (SPCU) at the ministry's headquarters. The state of the art facility, funded by the African Development Bank, features modern meeting halls and office spaces designed to enhance the working environment for ministry staff and SPCU officials.

Following a ribbon cutting ceremony, Minister clement , accompanied by ministry leadership, toured various sections of the building where he received briefings on its capacity and significance to ongoing projects.

Speaking during the inauguration, Minister Clement Juma, emphasized the ministry's high expectations for both ministry staff and the SPCU team. He urged them to maintain the facility properly, noting that proper management would attract more development partners to replicate similar investments across the country.

The Acting Country Representative of the African Development Bank reaffirmed the institution's full commitment to supporting the ministry and the country's development aspirations. She highlighted that the bank's country strategy places high priority on agricultural value chain development.

SPCU Project Director expressed optimism about the new facility's impact on operations, stating that the conducive work environment would significantly ease the work of project staff and improve productivity.

The inauguration marks a milestone in strengthening the ministry's institutional capacity to deliver on its agricultural transformation agenda.

Media and Pess Unit
Office of the Minister- Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security RSS