Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry started Wednesday a two-day African tour to South Sudan and Eretria with Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hossam Moghazy, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Egyptian officials will discuss the situation in South Sudan and the Horn of Africa in terms of development and stability with their counterparts. Shoukry will deliver a message from President Abdel Fatah Al Sisi during his meeting with S. Sudan's President Salva Kiir. Shoukry is also scheduled to hold talks with his S. Sudanese counterpart Barnaba Benjamin to discuss boosting bilateral relations and Egypt's role to end the current conflict in the country. Shoukry and Moghazi will also visit a number of Egyptian development projects in South Sudan, according to the statement. Cairo was the second country after Sudan to recognize South Sudan after it gained independence from its northern neighbor in 2011. On Thursday, Shoukry will visit Eretria on the last leg of his African tour where he will meet his Eritrean counterpart Othman Saleh Mohamed to discuss ways to improve bilateral relations in the coming period.
