Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to lead African Union Ministerial Committee on the Post-Conflict Reconstruction of Sudan, Tuesday, 22 - Saturday, 26 March 2005

Pretoria - South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will upon her return to South Africa, in her capacity as chair of the AU Ministerial Committee on the Post-Conflict Reconstruction of Sudan, lead a delegation of Ministers to Sudan from Tuesday - Saturday, 22-26 March 2005.

Foreign Ministers of the AU Committee on the Sudan viz. Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan are expected to participate in the visit.

The AU Committee on Post Conflict Reconstruction of Sudan held its 4th Ministerial session in Cape Town on 18 February 2005.

The meeting provided Ministers with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities for reconstruction in the Sudan, within the context of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on 9 January.

The AU Committee on Post Conflict Reconstruction of Sudan will support post conflict reconstruction in Sudan in all its political, humanitarian, socio-economic and developmental dimensions.

The Ministerial visit to Sudan also follows the release of the "Framework for Sustained Peace, Development and Poverty Eradication in Sudan". This report is the outcome of work done over the past year by the Joint Assessment Mission (JAM), organised by the UN and World Bank, together with teams led by the GoS and SPLM.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

20 March 2005