South Sudan downplays significance of rebel leader’s visit to Egypt

February 5, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government led by President Salva Kiir has downplayed the significance of visit to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, by former Vice-President and leader of an armed opposition faction, Riek Machar, asserting that its relations with the Egyptian government is strong and cannot be undermined by the visit of the opposition leader.

“Our relations with Egyptian government and people have been recording significant growth and are progressively growing exceptionally well. We have bilateral agreements in number of areas which guides our relations,” South Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said on Friday.

He added that Egypt is one of the African countries which support resolution of the conflict within the African context and does not approve the use of violence to change the government or sanctions as a way to impose solution between the two parties.

The Arab republic, he further narrated, rather believes in peaceful dialogue as a way to settle political differences.

“The position of Egypt is clear on the resolution of the conflict and I believe they will [not] change this position if Machar is going to lobby for the assistance to continue the war,” said Marial.

The top South Sudanese diplomat was reacting to the visit to Cairo on Thursday of the armed opposition leader and First-Vice President designate, Machar, in the company of his wife, Angelina Teny, who heads defence and security committee, secretary general of the movement, Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol and secretary for foreign relations, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth.

Machar and his accompanying delegation travelled to Cairo on invitation by the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The opposition leader has not yet met and held talks with the Egyptian president but has held talks with officials at the Egyptian foreign ministry, including chief of Egyptian intelligence responsible for South Sudan file, according to officials accompanying him.

Officials of the armed opposition faction, including its secretary general, Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, told Sudan Tribune on Thursday they are hoping to meet the Egyptian president on Saturday during which the two leaders would hold talks on “substantive matters.”

He did not disclose what they would bring up at the talks with the Egyptian president.

(ST)