Bulleted Summary:
- General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan of the Sudan Sovereign Council arrives in Juba, emphasizing the trust in South Sudan to mediate.
- Sudan’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Ali al-Sadiq praises South Sudan’s understanding of the conflict due to their shared history.
- South Sudan’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, emphasizes President Kiir’s unique insight into Sudanese matters.
- Burhan’s visit marks his second international trip since the outbreak of the Sudan conflict in April.
- Clashes began in April between Sudan’s army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, escalating to broader confrontations in Khartoum.
The Sudan Sovereign Council has highlighted South Sudan’s pivotal role in mediating the ongoing conflict in Sudan. This recognition was expressed by the Sudanese Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Ali al-Sadiq upon the arrival of the Council’s leader, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, at Juba International Airport.
Accompanying General Burhan were significant figures, including Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Ali al-Sadiq, General Ahmed Ibrahim Mufadel, head of the General Intelligence Authority, and other senior military officials. The delegation was welcomed by South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.
Ali al-Sadiq articulated the deep trust Sudan places in South Sudan’s mediation capabilities, stating,
“We in Sudan feel that South Sudan is the best country to meditate the conflict in Sudan because we have been one country for so long and we know each other, we know the problems and we know our needs.”
This sentiment was conveyed in a press release from the office of President Kiir.
Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, South Sudan’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs, affirmed South Sudan’s vested interest in finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis. He praised President Kiir’s intimate knowledge of the Sudanese situation, stating that the President has the solutions needed to navigate the conflict.
Highlighting the gravity of the current conflict, Burhan’s visit is only his second international outreach since violent confrontations erupted in Khartoum on 15th April. His previous trip was to Egypt, where discussions were held with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in the coastal city of el-Alamein.
The ongoing strife in Sudan began in April, stemming from clashes between the national army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The initial skirmishes have since escalated, leading to extensive confrontations in the nation’s capital, Khartoum, and other regions.
