Egypt keen to intensify coordination with South Sudan on impact of Sudanese crisis: Ambassador

CAIRO – 13 May 2023: Egypt is determined to intensify coordination and consultations with South Sudan on regional issues of mutual concern, especially the crisis in Sudan and its impacts on the two neighboring countries, Egyptian Ambassador to Juba Motaz Abdel Kader said.

Abdel Kader made the remarks in a meeting with Deng Dau, the acting minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation in South Sudan to follow up on the visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Juba last Tuesday.

Last week, Shoukry made a visit to each of Chad and South Sudan to deliver President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s message to the leaders of the two countries on the developments in Sudan.

Dau extended thanks and appreciation for the important visit paid by Shoukry to South Sudan, appreciating the message conveyed from President Sisi to South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on the developments in Sudan and on ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

For his part, Ambassador Abdel Kader highlighted the firm relations that bind the leaderships and peoples of Egypt and South Sudan.

The ambassador also stressed Egypt’s keenness to continue its support and efforts to provide assistance to South Sudan in various sectors and fields.

Egypt, as a neighbor to Sudan, has been urging the conflicting Sudanese parties to return to dialogue to reach a permanent ceasefire after the clashes killed hundreds of Sudanese, injured thousands, and forced tens of thousands to flee the country to Egypt.

Last Tuesday, Sisi also welcomed South Sudanese president's security advisor Tut Gatluak, who delivered a message from President Kiir on bilateral relations and the Sudanese crisis in a meeting in Cairo attended by Egyptian Chief of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel.

During their meeting, Sisi and Gatluak stressed the importance of encouraging Sudanese parties to abide by the truce and maintain a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire.

This would allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, and pave the way for launching a constructive dialogue to settle differences and resolve the crisis, they affirmed.