JUBA – President Salva Kiir has flown to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official one-day visit. The Office of the President issued a statement on Thursday morning revealing that President Kiir had traveled with a delegation of leaders to Ethiopia to tackle a raft of issues relating to the bilateral relations between the two countries.
‘‘The President is accompanied by the Minister of Presidential Affairs Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Beatrice Khamisa Wani, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Hon Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, and the Governor of Jonglei State Hon Denay Jock Chagor,’’ the statement read.
‘‘He is expected to meet with the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia H.E Dr. Abiy Ahmed to discuss issues that will strengthen and deepen the bilateral relations between the two countries and discuss the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region,’’ the statement added.
Another issue on the table for discussion is the implementation of the pending chapters of the 2018 peace agreement. The visit comes at a time that Ethiopia and Sudan undergo lukewarm relationships due to border disputes and the infamous GERD project that Ethiopia is hell-bent on implementing at the behest of soaring relations with Sudan and Egypt.
The President was seen off at Juba International Airport by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.