president and vice-president
13 June 2006
Pretoria - South African President Thabo Mbeki will visit Sudan on Tuesday,
20 June 2006 where he is expected to hold discussions with Sudanese President
Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir and Vice President Salva Kirr respectively.
President Mbeki's visit to Sudan comes within the context of South Africa's
stated commitment to consolidate the African agenda through the successful
implementation of peace processes. In this regard, South African Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is Chairperson of the African
Union's Post-Conflict and Reconstruction Committee in Sudan.
Discussions between President Mbeki and Sudanese President Omar Hasan Ahmad
al-Bashir on the one hand and with Vice President Salva Kirr on the other are
expected to look at challenges experienced by role-players in the
implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
South Africa, in partnership with University of South Africa (UNISA), is
involved in a Capacity and Institution Building Project to assist in the
development of Southern Sudan as outlined in the CPA. The Project aims to
increase capacity within the Government of Southern Sudan so that it may
interact with the National Congress Party (NCP) within the context of the
Government of National Unity (GNU). In addition, South Africa currently has 437
troops as part of the African Union (AU) force in Sudan/Darfur to support the
implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
President Thabo Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday, 21
June 2006 ahead of the official visit of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to
South Africa, scheduled for Tuynhuys in Cape Town later that day.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
13 June 2006
