Sudanese premier Abdallah Hamdok arrives in Juba for 2-day state visit

JUBA – Sudanese Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok has today arrived in the South Sudanese capital Juba for a two-day state visit in which he will discuss with senior government officials including President Salva Kiir Mayardit bilateral ties and the ongoing split within the SPLM-IO.

Speaking following the arrival of the Sudanese premier in Juba, foreign minister Beatrice Khamisa Wani said Kiir and Hamdok will discuss both bilateral issues and concerns related to the peace deal under the auspices of IGAD which Sudan currently chairs.

“We are here on both a bilateral visit as well as a visit on issues of IGAD. You know His Excellency Dr. Hamdok is also the chair of IGAD countries therefore the visit will be on two different things,” Khamisa said, according to Radio Tamazuj.

“We have over the years signed cooperation agreements between South Sudan and Sudan and those will be examined by the various ministers in South Sudan and their counterparts. But also His Excellency Dr. Hamdok will discuss with His Excellency President Salva Kiir issues of the implementation of the peace agreement and especially the recent developments in Magenis and so forth,” she added.

For her part, the Sudanese foreign affairs minister, Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, told the press that despite making some gains, there is slow progress in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and the unification of armed forces.

“Overseeing the implementation of the peace agreement, yes we all commended and we are observing the very positive developments that are taking place within the implementation of the peace agreement but there is still observed slowness and many of the observations regarding the integration of the armed groups,” Al-Maahdi said.

“The manifestation of this split (SPLM/A-IO) is still a manifestation of the whole process. That is why people are much concerned to revitalize and to further support the government of South Sudan to implement the agreement. And as you know the ending of the whole agreement is within a few weeks,” she added.