Al-Burhan arrives in Juba for high-stakes meeting with Kiir

JUBA – The head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdelfattah Al-Burhan, arrived in South Sudan’s capital Juba on Monday for a critical meeting with President Salva Kiir Mayardit, a top diplomat said.

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ramadan Goc, described the meeting as a “crucial bilateral discussion,” aimed at addressing a range of issues related to regional peace and stability. Goc stressed the importance of dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

“The two leaders are set to address pressing issues impacting both countries,” Goc said. “The discussions are expected to focus on enhancing regional peace and stability through constructive dialogue and cooperation.”

Stephen Lual Ngor, a member of South Sudan’s parliamentary foreign relations committee, said the agenda would also cover the 2012 bilateral agreement that allows citizens from each country to live in the other.

Ngor told Sudans Post that this agreement is a key issue, particularly given ongoing concerns about the mistreatment of citizens by authorities in both nations.

South Sudanese nationals in Sudan have reported instances of harassment, while Sudanese citizens in South Sudan have complained of being asked for travel permits within South Sudan.

The sentiments against the South Sudanese national in Sudan have been fueled by fears of widespread support for the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) among foreign nationals including South Sudanese.

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Al-Burhan, have clashed with the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti.

The fighting has escalated, particularly in North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher, where RSF forces are targeting the city. The SAF, alongside former rebel groups, is defending the 6^th Infantry Division, its last base in Darfur.

Although South Sudan maintains an official stance of neutrality in the Sudanese conflict, reports indicate that thousands of its citizens are fighting alongside the RSF.

The international community has called on South Sudan, as well as other neighboring countries, to apply pressure on the warring factions in Sudan to reach a peaceful resolution.