Egypt: Sisi Vows to Back S Sudan Peace Bid

Local Editor

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday backed an ongoing regional bid to resolve the conflict in South Sudan praising Khartoum for hosting peace talks between the country's warring parties.

Sisi, who arrived in Khartoum for a two-day visit, said the peace talks in the Sudanese capital were aimed at achieving peace and stability in neighboring South Sudan, where tens of thousands of people were killed and millions displaced since a brutal civil war erupted in December 2013.

"To South Sudan, I want to say that we will work together with our brothers in the region for achieving peace so that South Sudanese people enjoy stability and prosperity," said Sisi in remarks broadcast on state TV after holding talks with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

"These efforts ... have a clear vision when it comes to security, stability and development of regional countries," added Sisi, on his first visit to Khartoum since being re-elected to a second presidential term earlier this year.

The war in South Sudan began at the end of 2013 after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy, now rebel leader, Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

Khartoum, as part of regional efforts to end the conflict in South Sudan, has already hosted peace talks between the arch-foes.

Hours before Sisi's remarks, Khartoum announced a delay to a "preliminary" power-sharing deal between Kiir and Machar -- due to be signed Thursday -- as the warring factions had disagreements over the draft.

Although the sides agreed to a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of their forces from urban areas, Sudan's Foreign Minister Al-Dierdiry Ahmed said the parties wanted to include changes to the final power-sharing deal.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team