Sisi: Egypt ready to help restore stability in South Sudan

CAIRO – 20 February 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has received Mayik Aye Deng, minister of presidential affairs in South Sudan and special envoy of President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday in Cairo.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Acting General Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel also attended the meeting with Deng.

Ambassador Bassam Radi, official spokesperson of the Presidency, said that Minister Deng had conveyed warm greetings from South Sudan’s Kiir to President Sisi and handed over a message to Sisi that stresses Kiir’s keenness to boost bilateral relations between Juba and Cairo.

Sisi and Deng tackled various recent developments, including the recent political developments in Juba and the exerted efforts to restore order and stability in South Sudan, Radi added.

“Deng expressed his country’s recognition of the role Egypt played in restoring order in South Sudan in light of the historical relationship between the two countries,” manifested Radi.

Radi stated that President Sisi had asked Deng to deliver his sincere greetings to President Kiir, stressing the strength of the bonds between Juba and Cairo, adding, “Sisi affirmed that Egypt is ready to contribute in restoring stability and order in South Sudan, and to provid logistic and technical assistance for further development and a better future.”

In a related context, Arab League's Spokesman Ahmed Abul Gheit received on Tuesday a message from South Sudanese President Slava Kiir in which he expressed his desire to promote relations with Arab countries, MENA stated.


President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi receives Minister of presidential affairs in South Sudan Mayik Aye Deng in Cairo on February 20, 2018- Press Photo

For his part, South Sudanese presidential envoy Deng said his country is proud of its relations with the Arab countries and is keen on promoting its relations with the Arab states at the political, economic and diplomatic levels, added the Arab league’s spokesman to MENA.

On Saturday, Shoukry stressed Egypt’s support of South Sudan to achieve peace and stability within the framework of the initiative that aims to re-unite Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and to launch a national dialogue during talks held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference with First Vice President of South Sudan Taban Deng.

For his side, Shoukry voiced Sisi’s appreciation of the current cooperation between both countries as well as his keenness to support South Sudan in the educational, agricultural and healthcare sectors, Foreign Minister Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid stated.

South Sudan has been suffering a civil war for five years; tens of thousands were killed, while millions were displaced as the country plunged into famine.

Cairo hosted a three-day meeting with the South Sudan People's Liberation Movement on November 13 at the headquarters of the Egyptian Intelligence Service as it witnessed the signing of a political agreement between South Sudan's rivals.

The agreement was signed under the auspices of President Sisi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Signing the agreement is deemed a crucial step towards a permanent cease-fire in South Sudan before the renewed peace talks that are scheduled to take place in early February in Ethiopia.

Sixteen people have been killed, including three children, since South Sudan's cease-fire started less than a month ago, reported monitors.

Government and rebel forces have been fighting since December 2013 due to infighting among rows of the popular movement.

Both sides agreed that Egypt's General Intelligence will make the necessary coordination to carry out what was agreed upon during the meeting.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi receives Minister of presidential affairs in South Sudan Mayik Aye Deng in Cairo on February 20, 2018- Press Photo