Deputy President Ramaphosa to visit Nairobi and Juba, South Sudan from Sunday 31 May-03 June 2015

Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in his capacity as Special Envoy of President Jacob Zuma to South Sudan, will depart today on a two- nation’s visit to Nairobi and later Juba in South Sudan from Sunday 31 May-03 June 2015.  

Deputy President Ramaphosa will be joined by Abdurahman Kinana, the Secretary-General of Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), as a co-guarantor of the SPLM Reunification Agreement.

During his visit to Kenya, Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected among others to meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta, attend Kenya’s National Day celebrations before consulting with SPLM’s Former Detainees. Deputy President Ramaphosa will then proceed to Juba South Sudan on Monday 01 June 2015 where he will hold meetings with President Salva Kirr and members of the SPLM Politburo.

The visit to Kenya and South Sudan by Deputy President Ramaphosa comes against the background of efforts aimed at cementing lasting peace in South Sudan building upon the   Reunification Agreement signed in Arusha Tanzania early this year.

The agreement was signed by the various factions of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM). The Reunification Agreement seeks to address the political, organisational and leadership issues that caused the political crisis in the ruling party and South Sudan in general.

During a meeting hosted in Pretoria in April by Deputy President Ramaphosa with representatives of SPLM (Juba) and SPLM (Former Detainees), consensus was reached on how best to strengthen and implement the Reunification Agreement.

The meeting also impressed upon all SPLM factions present to remain focused on the reunification of the SPLM as a means to unite South Sudan and end the war. In this regard, the SPLM factions reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the SPLM Reunification Agreement.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria