South Sudan says situation not yet safe for president to travel to Khartoum

JUBA, APRIL 24, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s government said on Monday that the situation in the Sudanese capital Khartoum for President Salva Kiir Mayardit to travel in an attempt to mediate between the warring factions.

Sudan last week descended into a deadly violence after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo who is locally known as Hemedti launched several attacks on several army and government positions in the capital and other towns around the country.

A meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on the unfolding conflict in Sudan resolved to send Kiir along with President of Kenya William Ruto and of Djibouti Ismail Omar to try to convince the warring sides into accepting ceasefire.

Speaking to reporters during launch of a fundraising to evacuate citizens from Khartoum on Monday afternoon, acting foreign minister Deng Dau said that the president is very willing to travel to Khartoum but the situation at Khartoum Airport was not yet safe for him.

“When you hear that the airport is safe, they will travel but up to this moment, the airport is not safe,” Dau said.

“You don’t risk the life of mediation; you first have to have the airport of Khartoum safe and that it is land-able,” he added.

The senior government official further offered assurances that once the neighboring country’s airspace is safe, and flights in and out of the capital Khartoum resumed, Kiir and his accompanying delegation will travel to Sudan.