NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Here is news of some swift shuttle diplomacy occurring over 24 hrs on Mon-Tues between Egypt, Chad and South Sudan: Egyptian Foreign Minister Mr Sameh Soukri, considered by many as a lion of diplomacy, delivered a letter in person from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby in N'Djamena, Chad and then on Tuesday morning he jetted to South Sudan's capital Juba to deliver President El Sisi's letter to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and to listen to ideas from President Kiir on ways to strengthen coordination to meet the challenges arising from the Sudanese situation.
Read more in the following report at Ahram Online
Dated Tuesday 09 May 2023 - full copy including typos:
UPDATED: Egypt and South Sudan bear a special responsibility towards Sudan: Shoukry in Juba
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt and South Sudan bear a special responsibility towards Sudan, stressing that the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people must be alleviated.
Sudanese fleeing conflict put pressure on South Sudan, Egypt: Dau Deng and Shoukry to press. Screenshot
Shoukry's comments came during a press conference with South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau Deng in the South Sudan capital Juba on Tuesday.
The two top diplomats talked to reporters after holding a meeting to discuss the ramifications of the ongoing conflict in Sudan on both countries and coordinate efforts to end it.
"Egypt and South Sudan are working to achieve stability in the region," Shoukry told reporters.
For his part, Dau Deng said that "the influx of Sudanese people fleeing violence in their country is putting pressures on its immediate neighbours."
“All international efforts to end the conflict need to be coordinated for the benefit Sudanese people,” Dau Deng said.
The South Sudan top diplomat added that Shoukry’s visit is very crucial to his country since "the two countries have a shared focus on reaching peace in Sudan."
Earlier in the day, Shoukry delivered a message in person from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.
During the press conference, Shoukry noted that he listened to new ideas from President Kiir on ways to strengthen coordination to meet the challenges arising from the Sudanese situation.
“I will convey President Kiir's ideas to President El-Sisi. We will continue to coordinate on ways to resove the crisis as well as deal with its humanitarian impact on both Egypt and South Sudan,” Shoukry said.
President El-Sisi stressed in his message to the President Kiir on the need to reach a a permanent ceasefire in Sudan, explained Shoukry.
Meanwile, Dau Deng stressed during the press conference that "any continuation of the war in Sudan will put pressure on our countries."
For his part, FM Shoukry noted that Egypt has received 70,000 Sudanese citizens through its southern borders since the start of the conflict in mid-April.
He stressed that the current conflict requires that Sudan’s immediate neighbours consult on a continuous basis to work toward ending the ongoing fighting and ameliorate its impacts on them.
The top Egyptian diplomat also highlighted the importance of taking the necessary actions to coordinate politically or economically for the best interest of both peoples of Egypt and South Sudan.
Shoukry's visit to Juba comes a day after he delivered a letter in person to Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby as part of Egyptian shuttle diplomacy to coordinate regional efforts to end the conflict in Sudan.
View original: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/500394.aspx
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