S. Sudan seeks Khartoum’s support for successful peace implementation
November 21, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan government said Saturday that it would count on the support of the government of neighbouring Sudan for the successful implementation of the peace which it has signed in August with armed opposition leadership under former vice-president, Riek Machar.
“The summit is being organized by the IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development). We don’t have the full list of the heads of state and government invited to attend this summit but we believe it will be attended by the heads of state and governments of the IGAD member countries. So we are expecting the attendance of the Sudanese president. If he comes, he would be one of our special guests at the summit. As the government and as the people of South Sudan we need the support of the government of Sudan for successful implementation of this peace,” said Marial.
Marial said South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his Sudanese counterpart, will hold separate discussions on the sidelines of the summit over a host of important bilateral issues between the countries and take stock of progress made in the implementation of the 2012 Cooperation Agreement, which both countries signed.
The foreign affairs minister described South Sudan’s relationships with Sudan as “steady and growing towards realisation of mutual benefits”, adding that the government was working hard to build trust by strengthening and enhancing the existing bilateral relations.
“Our relations with Sudan over the past three years have been steady and growing towards the direction of realisation of mutual benefits. As the government, we have been paying special attention to our relations with Sudan not just for smooth, effective and clear direction but also on investment opportunities which is one of the areas of our relations where we would need public support to help improve and strengthen our relations with Sudan and other neighbouring countries in the region and in the whole world,” said Marial.
Sudanese president recently told the AU special envoy for South Sudan peace implementation that he is aware of Juba accusations that Khartoum backs the South Sudanese rebels.
But he refuted the claims and reiterated his full support for peace in South Sudan, adding that any instability in Juba directly affects Khartoum.
Observers say Khartoum hopes that the implementation of the peace agreement would also force Juba to stop its support to the Sudanese armed groups, as the deal provides to ban their presence in the South Sudanese territory.
(ST)