President Kiir to visit Khartoum next Saturday

Aril 1, 2014 (KHARTOUM) -South Sudanese president Salva Kiir will visit Khartoum next Saturday for talks with his counterpart Omer Al-Bashir , the Sudanese foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.

The spokesperson of the foreign ministry Abu Bakr Al-Sidiq said the one-day visit comes in response to an invitation extended by president Al-Bashir during his last visit to Juba in January.

Ambassador Sidiq added that Kiir’s visit comes within the framework of the continuous contacts between the leadership of the two countries to enhance bilateral relations.

The two leaders are expected to approve the resumption of joint border monitoring patrols and the implementation of the security arrangements, and to discuss situation in Abyei.

Following the visit of Sudanese president Bashir to Juba last January, the two capitals denied reports about the deployment of a joint force to protect oil fields.

However, on 20 March South Sudanese defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, discussed in Khartoum the activation of security mechanisms agreed by the two countries since 27 September 2012.

(ST)