Egyptian foreign minister in Juba for talks with Kiir on Sudanese conflict

JUBA, MAY 9, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Egyptian foreign minister Samy Shoukry has arrived in South Sudan for talks with President Salva Kiir Mayardit on the ongoing conflict in Sudan, according to a statement from South Sudan’s foreign ministry.

“Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, arrived in Juba today and was received by the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Deng Dau Deng Malek, at Juba International Airport,” the foreign ministry statement said.

The statement said that the top Egyptian diplomat’s trip “is part of an ongoing attempt to coordinate developments in the mid-April situation in Sudan with neighboring countries” and that he “will meet with H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit at the State House.”

Sudan descended into a deadly conflict on April 15 after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched attack on several government and army positions in the capital Khartoum displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

South Sudan is leading an initiative by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in an attempt to bring the warring Sudanese sides into negotiating table.

Though the two sides have failed to show willingness to end the deadly fighting which has destroyed the capital Khartoum, they have sent delegates in a ceasefire talks being currently held in Saudi Arabia by the authorities there under the auspices of the US.