Kiir in UAE for talks, to grace Dubai Expo
President Salva Kiir has arrived in the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Expo 2020 and bilateral talks.
The government of the United Arab Emirates invited President Kiir to the Dubai Expo 2020, where he is expected to hold bilateral talks with the leaders during his three days visit to Dubai.
“His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic has today (Friday, 18th February 2022) left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the Dubai Expo at the invitation of the Government of UAE,” the Presidential press unit wrote on the Facebook page.
“On his three-day working visit, H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit is expected to participate in Dubai Expo 2020, and hold bilateral discussions with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates.”
The President was seen off by the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, and other senior government officials.
He was accompanied by the Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak; Minister for Presidential Affairs, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mayiik Ayii Deng; Minister of Finance and Planning, Agak Achuil Lual; Minister of Culture, Museums, and National Heritage, Nadia Arop Dudi Mayom; Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Rizik Zachariah Hassan; and Director General of General Intelligence Bureau, Simon Yien Makuac.
Attempts to reach the Presidential Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny, were futile as he could not pick up the repeated phone calls made to him.
Diplomatic mission
On Tuesday, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to South Sudan, Mohamed Salem Alrashedi, presented credentials to the President alongside Gershon Keder, the Ambassador of Israel to South Sudan, and Sianga Kivuila Samuel Abilio, the Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to South Sudan.
The president welcomed the accredited ambassadors during the accreditation ceremony and urged them to strengthen bilateral relations between their countries and South Sudan, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mayiik Ayii Deng, pledged his total cooperation with them.
This is the first external diplomatic trip the President has embarked on since his trip to Qatar was foiled last year after a high-level delegation landed in Qatar and a number of them tested positive for COVID-19.
Talks
The President in 2021 sought bilateral relations with several countries, including Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Qatar, among others. It was worth noting that he had played a key role in the restoration of peace in the region, including Sudan and Ethiopia, to mention but a few.
His efforts did not end in vain as the Juba Peace Agreement led to seemingly a stable Sudan. He has been pushing hard to ensure that the political stalemate in Sudan subsides for the benefit f the two countries.
In February 2021, Ethiopia welcomed South Sudan’s decision to mediate the stalemate between Addis Ababa and over the border.
The spokesperson of the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Dina Mufti, said they wanted a diplomatic solution and lauded the peace lovers.
“Ethiopia appreciates the initiatives of all concerned countries and bodies that offered to assist in resolving the border issue,’’ said Mufti.
‘‘Ethiopia is always ready to negotiate and solve the issue peacefully.” The two countries’ border agreement was signed between Ethiopia and the British Colonial Administration.”
In August 2021, Kiir responded to the call from the IGAD Chairperson, Abdalla Hamdok, to visit Ethiopia and promised to mediate the conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray forces.
Kiir was viewed as the right mediator, but it was unfortunate that his efforts did not bear fruit as the Ethiopian Prime Minister was reported to have joined the battlefield, a decision criticised as not fit for the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Abiy Ahmed.
In October 2021, the president visited Cairo to strengthen bilateral relations with Egypt, and the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, pledged his government’s support in terms of political stability, economic resurrection, and security stabilisation in South Sudan.
The two counterparts also discussed the future of the previous agreements the two countries had previously signed.
“President Salva Kiir’s visit is both symbolic and, at the same time, presents an opportunity for the two countries to explore new areas of cooperation,’’ read the statement from the office of the president.
There was also a discussion concerning the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Sudan and South Sudan which included the provision of arable land to Egyptian investors and the establishment of educational training centres in South Sudan.
This MoU was signed by the Egyptian Irrigation Minister, Mohammed Abdel Aati and his South Sudanese counterpart, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth concerning mitigation of the risks of flooding in the Sudd Swamp in South Sudan.
Al-Sisi promised to transfer Egyptian technocrats to South Sudan to support agriculture and industry.
