Press Release
16 April 2013
President Jacob Zuma welcomes the recent Meeting between the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan in Juba
President Jacob Zuma welcomed the recent visit to Juba by Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir to meet with his South Sudanese counterpart, President Salva Kiir Mayardit. This historic meeting marked the first visit by President Al-Bashir to Juba since the independence of South Sudan in July 2011.
“I wish to express my thanks to President Salva Kiir for extending the invitation to President Al-Bashir to visit Juba and for the collegial manner in which President Al-Bashir accepted the invitation to engage in constructive discussions on the outstanding post-independence issues between Sudan and South Sudan. I have heard that President Al-Bashir was warmly received by the people of South Sudan and that the meeting emphasized the strong commitment that the two Presidents have to peace between their countries,” President Zuma said.
President Zuma further congratulated the two leaders for reaffirming their commitment to the implementation of the nine agreements signed in September 2012, as well as the Implementation Matrix agreed upon in March 2013. In this regard, the establishment of high level committee headed by the Vice Presidents of the two countries to facilitate speedy decision making on enhancing relations is an important step and demonstration of commitment.
President Zuma noted particularly the resumption of oil production on 6 April 2013 in South Sudan, following agreement on the transportation through the oil pipelines in Sudan, which he said would likely reduce the economic woes both countries have faced since the halt of oil production last year.
President Zuma further hailed the cordial discussions on the security arrangements and banking agreements and took special note of the announcement by the two leaders that they would continue their efforts to resolve the Abyei issue in accordance with the Implementation Matrix.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, +27 82 884 5974.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
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