Sudan’s Hamdok leaves Khartoum for Juba ahead of peace signing ceremony

KHARTOUM – Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has left the capital Khartoum heading to South Sudan’s capital Juba, ahead of the signing ceremony for landmark peace agreement with armed opposition groups.

A peace process which began last year has resulted into an agreement that is believed to end decades-long devastating conflicts between the ruling coalition, and several rebel groups making up the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF).

Some of the rebel movements in Sudan’s restive region of Darfur and Southern Blue Nile have however remained outside the peace process.

In a statement this morning, Hamdok said he was leaving Khartoum for Juba ahead of the ceremony.

“I am heading to Juba today to attend the signing ceremony for the end of the first phase of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with our comrades in the armed struggle movements, and to discuss the beginning of the second phase,” Hamdok wrote on Facebook.

“Since independence, we have not succeeded in achieving a formula that harmonizes the two issues of comprehensive peace and democratic transition, paving the way for achieving political stability and balanced development, and developing better foreign relations with the neighborhood and the world,” he said adding: “Thanks to the December Revolution, there was a possibility and an opportunity to fulfill this postponed duty.”

Hamdok further stressed the need for international cooperation which he said would help change the country’s pariah status.

“The next biggest challenge is to work with all local and international partners with great care and diligence to preach the agreement and the benefits it has for our people, to take care of it, and to bring it to the ground in order to fulfill the December promise to our citizens in the displacement and asylum camps, and all of my country,” he said.

Regional and some international leaders are expected to arrive in Juba today ahead of the ceremony tomorrow.