By Mary Poni
President Kiir met with a delegation from the Republic of Sudan led by the Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo on Tuesday to discuss political developments in Sudan.
According to the statement from the office of the President, the discussion was basically focused on the areas of trade, investment and economic cooperation including security between the two countries.
The Presidential Advisor for National Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime spoke to the press after the meeting – stating that the security situation along border corridors as well as mechanisms to explore investment opportunities and foster trade between South Sudan and Sudan was part of the discussion.
According to the Sudanese political analyst, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemeti’, the Vice President of the Sudanese Sovereign Council visit to Juba, South Sudan is likely to discuss political developments in Sudan.
Early this month, Sudan’s military and a faction of the pro-democracy coalition reached a framework agreement to end the country’s political crisis; thus, other political forces opposed the agreement.
“This visit comes at a time when Sudan is witnessing political developments and this confirms its purpose is to discuss Sudan’s Juba Peace Agreement following political demands in Sudan to amend the agreement, some of whose clauses have become an obstacle to democratic transformation,” Sudanese political analyst Hathim Ayoub Abu Al-Hassan, told the media.
The analyst pointed out that the Juba Peace Agreement for Sudan faces political and security challenges on the ground and requires amending some of its provisions after discussing it with the government of South Sudan, the mediator of the agreement.
The Sovereign Council’s statement indicated that the visit was aimed at discussing bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries.
According to a press release by the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council, Hemeti was accompanied to Juba on Monday by a high-level security delegation including the directors of the security services, military intelligence, and rapid support intelligence.