South Sudan is seeking technical knowledge and cooperation from Nigeria and Ethiopia as it works to strengthen its civil registration and digital identity systems.
General Achol Cyier Rehan, Director-General of the Directorate of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passports and Immigration (DCRNPI), recently led engagements in the two countries focused on modern approaches to civil registration and digital identification.
On September 16, 2026, Gen. Achol attended Nigeria’s National Identity Day celebrations at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after receiving an official invitation from Dr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The event also provided an opportunity for bilateral discussions between the two officials on cooperation, knowledge sharing and best practices in integrated civil registry management.
“We did not come just to attend, but to share experiences, build up our systems, and emphasize finding solutions as Africans to African problems,” Gen. Achol said during her address.
She said identity systems should go beyond issuing documents, describing identification as an important element of recognition, unity and inclusion.
Following the Nigeria engagement, Gen. Achol led a South Sudanese delegation to Ethiopia for a study tour of the country’s FAYDA digital identification system.
The delegation held interactive engagements with Ethiopia’s civil registry authorities to gain practical knowledge on the development and management of modern identification systems.
The visit focused on how digital technology can be integrated into civil registration and identification processes to improve the delivery and management of identity services.
Gen. Achol commended Ethiopia’s FAYDA system and expressed South Sudan’s interest in obtaining technical support and learning from Ethiopia’s experience as the country works to establish a modern and more robust civil registry.
The engagements in Nigeria and Ethiopia form part of South Sudan’s efforts to strengthen its civil registration infrastructure and explore digital solutions for identity management.
A functional civil registration and digital identity system can provide a foundation for more efficient identification services and improve access to government and other essential services.
