South African vice president David Mabuza arrived in Nairobi on Thursday to begin his three-state visit to the East African region in line with the South African government’s efforts to facilitate peace in South Sudan.
Mabuza’s trip will see him visit Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, all of whom are members of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which has been routing for peace in the world’s youngest nation.
Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as Special Envoy to South Sudan, has arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi as part of South Africa’s efforts to facilitate lasting peace and stability in South Sudan. pic.twitter.com/kMA0MHCO8F
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) December 6, 2018
In his capacity as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s envoy, Mabuza will hold consultative meetings with President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) as well as President Omar Al Bashir (Sudan).
“This working visit builds on the October 2018 consultations with IGAD member states. The Deputy President will also strengthen political, social and economic relations between South Africa and these three IGAD members,” said the Presidency in a statement.
South Sudan has been dogged by war since December 2013, sparked by a feud between President Salva Kiir and his then deputy Riek Machar.
The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions others, prompting the United Nations to rank South Sudan as Africa’s biggest refugee crisis, coming third worldwide after Syria and Afghanistan.
IGAD, alongside international actors have been calling for dialogue between the warring factions as a way of pacifying the country.
Dialogue between the sides culminated to a peace deal in August, which created a unity government and is hoped will lead to a presidential election.
