South Sudan president to continues regional peace efforts, to visit DR Congo

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who also chairs the East African Community (EAC), will soon visit the Democratic Republic of Congo to help ease tensions in the conflict-ridden nation.

Information minister Michael Makuei Lueth said while speaking to journalists yesterday that Kiir recently visited Rwanda, Burundi, and Ethiopia in his capacity as EAC chair.

The senior government official said that Kiir’s visits were aiming at reducing tensions between these countries.

“The objective of this visit is to close the gaps because there was tension between these countries,” Makuei who is also the government spokesman said, noting that Kiir’s interactions with regional leaders have helped control the situation.

The South Sudanese cabinet has approved Kiir’s upcoming trip to Kinshasa, Makuei said, adding that the president “is expected to visit DRC at any time.”

East African leaders last year mandated that all troop-contributing countries, including South Sudan and Uganda, deploy forces to the DRC to fight the M23 rebel group.

The M23 has seized territory near Goma, worsening tensions in the region and leading the DRC to accuse Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a charge Rwanda denies.