Juba, Sudan: South African International Relations and Cooperation, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane supported by the Minister in the Presidency, Minister Collins Chabane have just concluded a three day working visit to Sudan. The Ministers wrapped up their visit in Juba, Southern Sudan this morning, 17 September 2009.
The two ministers were in Sudan to strengthen relations between South Africa and Sudan as part of efforts aimed at the Consolidation of the African Agenda. South Africa also sought to evaluate progress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement as well as assess the state of preparedness for the forthcoming April 2010 elections.
Since 2003, South Africa has chaired the African Union Ministerial Committee on Post Conflict and Reconstruction and Development of the Sudan. The challenges faced in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement as well as preparations for the forthcoming April 2010 elections and the referendum received prominence in the visit both in Khartoum and Juba.
Whilst in Sudan, the ministers paid courtesy calls on President Omar El Bashir as well as Lt General Salva Kirr Mayardit, the President of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) who is also the President of the Government of Southern Sudan and first Vice President of Sudan.
South Africa has long been seized with assisting the Sudanese to finding lasting peace in the Sudan. Simultaneously South Africa assists the Southern Sudanese in Capacity Building programmes for government institutions as well as training of the police. The ministers also met senior government ministers in the fields of
Regional Integration, Labour and Internal Affairs as well as Judge Abel Alier, Chairperson of the Sudanese National Electoral Commission.
Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane proposed the establishment of a Political Consultative Forum between the Government of South Africa, Government of Southern Sudan as well as the Government of Sudan aimed at opening lines of dialogue between the three parties and assisting them towards the acceleration of the outstanding areas in the key provisions of the CPA. Both Khartoum and Juba warmly welcomed the South African proposal which would also keep IGAD informed of developments.
Ministers Nkoana-Mashabane and Chabane are scheduled to arrive in South Africa later this afternoon ahead of Minister Mashabane's participation at the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
For more information, contact:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
17 September 2009
