President Thabo Mbeki has left Zimbabwe for Sudan

Harare- South African President Thabo Mbeki, supported by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad has this afternoon, Monday 15 September 2008, left Harare, Zimbabwe for Sudan. President Mbeki will hold political consultations with President Omar El Bashir and Sudanese Vice President and President of South Sudan Salva Kirr.

South Africa is the current Chair of the African Union’s Post-Conflict and Reconstruction of the Sudan and in pursuance of this mandate, South Africa has held regular consultations with the leadership of the Sudan both in the North and the South to be appraised of progress on a number of issues.

Consequently, President Mbeki visited Sudan last year while receiving both President El Bashir and Vice President and President of the South Sudan Salva Kirr to South Africa. Minister of Foreign Affairs has in the same capacity visited Sudan to pursue the AU mandate.

 The current visit to Sudan will thus provide President Mbeki and his delegation with an excellent opportunity to be briefed of progress regarding the North-South dialogue as well as the peace and security situation in the whole of Sudan.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private bag x 152
Pretoria
0001

15 September 2008