Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to undertake Official Visit to the Sudan, 15 - 17 September 2009.

Pretoria - International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, accompanied by Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Mr Collin Chabane and senior government officials, will undertake a working visit to Khartoum and Juba, in the Sudan from 15 to 17 September 2009.

During her visit Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will hold discussions with her Sudanese counterpart on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD), the conflict in Darfur, the 2010 election and other matters related to the implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).  Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane actively participated in the High-Level Conference on the role of the international community in the implementation of the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) Conference on Sudan organised by the United States of America in June 2009, in yet another endeavour to find a peaceful solution to the challenges facing the Sudan.

The visit takes place against the backdrop of the sound and solid bilateral relations between South Africa and Sudan, as symbolised by various projects at various levels of government.  These projects include the capacitating of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) officials in the context of the Capacity and Institution Building Project for Southern Sudan.  South Africa has also deployed troops and civilian police in Darfur as part of the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

The Darfur conflict was the main focus of the Special Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Libya on 31 August 2009 with theme, “Consideration and Resolution of Conflicts in Africa”.

The African Union High-level Panel on Darfur (AUPD), led by former President Thabo Mbeki has been in consultation with various stakeholders from all sections of Darfurian society in an effort to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict in Darfur. The Panel is expected to hand over its report to the AU during September 2009.

South Africa and the Sudan launched a structured bilateral mechanism in May 2006 named Joint Bilateral Commission (JBC) which convenes at both ministerial and senior officials’ levels.   In addition South Africa is the Chair of the AU Ministerial Commission on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development of the Sudan.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is expected to return to South Africa on 17 September 2009 ahead of the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from 21 - 25 September 2009.

For more information contact Nomfanelo Kota on 082 459 3787.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag X152
Pretoria, 0001

14 September 2009.