South Sudan is the latest country to join the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA), a regional apex body of customs clearing and forwarding agents in East Africa with over 2,500 agents across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania (Mainland and Zanzibar). South Sudan officially joined FEAFFA in June 2024 during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Nairobi, Kenya.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, FEAFFA President Philippe Ndikumana officially welcomed the South Sudan Freight Forwarders Association (SSFFA) and presented them with key instruments from the Federation, including the Constitution, the professional code of conduct, the training curriculum, among others.
“We are excited to welcome SSFFA, our seventh member association, as we continue the expansion of the Federation. We look forward to expanding our work in professionalizing the sector, enhancing compliance, improving trade efficiency, and creating job opportunities for our members in the new country,” he said.
Mr. Jacob Kuoi, the Secretary General of the SSFFA, expressed optimism about working with like-minded industry players to address issues affecting the freight logistics industry in the region. “We are extremely honored to join the regional family of freight forwarders and benefit from the various interventions championed by FEAFFA in empowering freight forwarders,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr. Elias Baluku, the Executive Director of FEAFFA, assured SSFFA that the secretariat would work closely with SSFFA to build its institutional capacity to better serve its members and the logistics sector. He added that South Sudan would henceforth be included in the regional initiatives implemented by FEAFFA supported by different partners.
“We aim to significantly contribute to reducing the cost and time of doing business in the EAC region,” Baluku said.
The South Sudan Freight Forwarders Association (SSFFA) joins six other national associations in East Africa, including the Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA), the Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA), the Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA), the Association Burundaise des Agences en Douane et Transitaires (ABADT), the Zanzibar Freight Forwarders Bureau (ZFB), and the Rwanda Freight Forwarders Association (RWAFFA).
The expansion of the EAC regional bloc spells growth for freight forwarders in East Africa, promoting intra-regional trade with immense opportunities. As a landlocked country, South Sudan largely depends on the ports of Mombasa and the Northern Corridor to move its imports and exports.
FEAFFA is also exploring opportunities to bring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia into its network to cover the entire EAC bloc. The Federation is also undertaking a rigorous internal restructuring to accommodate other national associations in countries that have multiple freight forwarders associations.
At a recent FEAFFA board meeting held in Nairobi, Mr. Charles Mwebembezi, Chairperson of the Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA), shared his enthusiasm for the planned introduction of the FIATA Diploma in Uganda and the larger East African Community (EAC) region. “The FIATA diploma offers freight forwarders exposure to global logistics standards and is essential for both current and aspiring leaders in the industry,” he said. FEAFFA is facilitating the registration process for students across other EAC countries, supporting regional professionals in enhancing their skills to meet global benchmarks.
SSFFA currently has approximately 80 members. South Sudan joined the EAC in 2016 after meeting the requirements for new members. With a population of about 11 million, South Sudan expands the regional market and creates more business opportunities. It is one of the largest transit markets for Kenya and other EAC countries.
This article was published by the editorial team at FEAFFA. For any enquiries, contact us via Email: editorial@feaffa.com/ freightlogistics@feaffa.com / onionga@feaffa.com Tel: +254733780240
