Juba - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Thursday 07 January 2016, arrived in Juba in South Sudan to represent President Jacob Zuma at the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)’s Extraordinary Convention scheduled for Thursday and Friday 07 -08 January 2016. 
 
The visit follows the extension of an invitation to President Jacob Zuma by South Sudanese President Salva Kirr.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa is the Special Envoy of President Jacob Zuma to South Sudan. In this regard Deputy President Ramaphosa working together with Abdurahman Kinana, the Secretary-General of Tanzania’s ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi, has been involved in efforts aimed at facilitating unity among the various factions of the SPLM with a view to bringing an end to war and to herald the era of peace in South Sudan.
 
In pursuance of this objective and working within the framework of the Arusha Agreement signed in October 2014 as  facilitated by leaders of South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia, Deputy President Ramaphosa together with Abdurahman Kinana has been involved in a number of confidence building initiatives to help unify the ranks of the SPLM.
 
These included among others the facilitation of the return to Juba in 2015 of several SPLM (Detainees) who were exiled abroad. The return of the former detainees culminated in Deputy President Ramaphosa addressing the SPLM Extended National Liberation Council meeting in the capital.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will return to South Africa later on Friday 8 January 2016.
 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
 
Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria