South Sudan seeks Huawei support for digitalisation

South Sudan is seeking Huawei’s expertise, with the government looking to the technology company to support the digitalisation of public services.

The engagement is the latest step in the restoration of relations between the world’s newest country and the Chinese technology company after a fallout dating back more than a decade.

Ateny Wek Ateny, minister of information, communication technology and postal services of South Sudan, held exploratory discussions with Huawei vice-president for global public business Eric Ma in Hangzhou, China.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the China-Africa digital Capacity Building and Cooperation Conference.

“The government is ready to seek Huawei’s technological expertise in connecting public services,” Ateny said after the meeting.

In Hangzhou, a major tech hub driven by e-commerce giants and a rising wave of artificial intelligence and robotics startups, the minister welcomed continued partnership with Chinese firms, particularly in the ICT sector.

Besides e-governance, South Sudan is seeking Huawei’s participation in building smart cities, providing energy solutions and setting up a national data hub in Juba, the capital.

Ateny said Ma recognised Huawei’s more than decade-long presence in South Sudan and the mutual understanding between the country and China.

However, relations between South Sudan and the technology company have been strained before. In 2014, government officials accused Huawei of hacking government emails and forging documents.

Despite the tension, Huawei stayed active in the East African country’s market, including connecting schoolchildren to the internet and refurbishing school laboratories.

Ateny and Wang Shibo, CEO of Huawei South Sudan, are credited with restoring relations between the country and company after both assumed their respective positions in 2025.

The breakthrough was a meeting in early 2026 in Juba, where the pair discussed bridging the digital divide, establishing the data hub and transforming the capital into a smart city.