General Abdel Al-Fattah Al-Burhan, Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, is in Juba, South Sudan, to engage in talks with South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit about strengthening bilateral relations and fostering cooperation between the two countries. The meeting comes after months of turmoil in Sudan.
In an official statement released, on September 4, 2023, Sudan and South Sudan have announced their intention to tackle the pressing issues plaguing Sudan during the talks. These multifaceted challenges encompass political instability, economic turmoil, and a dire humanitarian crisis.
The visit follows months of deadly combat in Sudan, where paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels overpowered Al-Burhan inside the army headquarters in Khartoum.
However, he was able to flee the capital last week and has been working from Port Sudan, the country’s temporary capital.
Sudan’s intelligence chief, Ahmed Ibrahim Mufaddal, and acting foreign minister Ali Al-Sadiq accompanied the General to the talks.
In January 2011, South Sudan voted to separate from Sudan and became an independent state on July 9, that year. This brought about numerous conflicts between the two nations however, Sudan and South Sudan declared a truce and vowed to collaborate for regional stability.
The two countries, which share a long border, have a number of economic and cultural ties which necessitate collaboration.
The visit that is scheduled to last for one day has brought hope for the regional peace and collaboration.