Mbeki on the way to Sudan

2005-07-08 12:55

Cape Town - President Thabo Mbeki will travel directly from the G8 meeting currently underway in Gleneagles, Scotland, to Khartoum for the inauguration of Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed el-Bashir and his two deputies.

Mbeki, accompanied by deputy foreign affairs minister Aziz Pahad, will attend the ceremony in South Africa's capacity as chair of the African Union Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Sudan, foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Friday.

"The visit must therefore be understood within the context of South Africa's stated objective of promoting the peaceful resolution of conflicts while encouraging post-conflict reconstruction and development," he said.

After the inauguration El-Bashir would sign into law the interim national constitution that would govern the activities of the Sudanese government of national unity for the next six years of the transitional period.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January this year had held very well with all sides working towards creating the conditions for peace and stability in Sudan.

"South Africa will thus continue to work for successful implementation of the current peace process," Mamoepa said.

- SAPA