Mayak Ding, the South Sudanese Minister of Presidential Affairs and presidential special envoy, handed over a message from President Silva Kiir to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday on the subject of enhancing bilateral relations and the current political situation in South Sudan. The meeting was attended by Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the acting Chief of General Intelligence Abbas Kamel. "The message discussed the political situation and efforts to maintain stability in South Sudan. In it, Kiir expressed appreciation to Egypt's role to maintain stability in South Sudan, in light of historic relations binding both countries," a statement by Egypt's presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady said. "President El-Sisi expressed Egypt's willingness to exert efforts to help maintain safety and stability in the brotherly country and reaffirmed Cairo's commitment to offer assistance to development efforts in South Sudan," the statement added. Last November, Egypt sponsored the signing of a declaration of unification between two factions of the South Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) at the headquarters of Egypt's intelligence agency headquarters in Cairo. The declaration, which supports peace efforts to end the dispute between the rival factions and stipulates the return of refugees displaced by conflict, was signed under the auspices of President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. South Sudan gained its independence from the Republic of the Sudan via referendum in 2011 following several years of conflict.
