Paul Mashatile holds fruitful discussion with Dr Riek Machar

Machar received Deputy President Mashatile and his accompanying delegation yesterday.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said he had a fruitful discussion on Tuesday with South Sudan’s First Vice President and leader of South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in Opposition, Dr Riek Machar. 

“I just completed a very fruitful discussion with Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, where we discussed a number of important issues that will allow South Sudan to move forward in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS),” he said. 

Machar received Deputy President Mashatile and his accompanying delegation yesterday. 

The Deputy President is in South Sudan on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, as a Special Envoy to track the implementation of R-ARCSS and to assist in resolving the challenges that may hinder free and fair elections at the end of the transitional period.

The Deputy President noted some of the concerns raised by the Vice President, among others, the issues of refugees and the country’s permanent Constitution. 

“We’ve agreed that we will look into the issues that they have raised. But a commitment to move forward to complete the peace process and have the election is agreed to… The Vice President is committed to ensuring that we achieve this within the timeframes that have been agreed upon, which is February 2025 to have the election.” 

However, according to South Africa’s second-in-command, there is a need for the country to assist South Sudan in resolving some of those challenges. 

“I will be meeting with the President to further discuss the issues. But, I’m very confident that with the kind of discussions we had, we will be able to resolve most of the issues and able to complete the peace process and have a successful and free and fair elections within the timeframe.” 

Meanwhile, the Acting Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President, Puok Both Baluang, said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, the progress and challenges facing the implementation of the revitalised agreement.

The leaders also touched on strengthening economic cooperation between the two sisterly countries.

“Dr Machar expressed that the meeting was a significant opportunity for both countries to enhance their friendship. 

“He noted that South Sudan and South Africa share common values and principles, and he looks forward to the two nations’ relationship and collaboration growing.”

Baluang said Vice President Machar also briefed the visiting delegation on the progress and challenges of the R-ARCSS and the prerequisites for conducting free, fair and credible elections in South Sudan. 

“He also assured them of his commitment to continue working for the full implementation of the agreement.” 

The task of the Special Envoy is to help the parties to the Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan with the implementation of the R-ARCSS.

The power-sharing agreement was signed between the warring parties in August 2018 in a bid to end the five-year civil war.

The Deputy President of South Africa expressed gratitude and admiration on behalf of himself and his delegation for the warm welcome they received in South Sudan and for the cordial ties that exist between the two nations. 

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)