South Sudan’s minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mayiik Ayii Deng is in Washington DC to represent President Slava Kiir Mayardit in the US- Africa Summit to be held on the 14th -16th of this month.
“The minister of foreign affairs has already traveled to Washington. Mayiik Ayii is the one representing the country and President Kiir,” Deng Dau Deng, the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Radio Tamazuj on Monday.
According to Deng, the minister traveled on Friday last week ahead of the Summit which is to kick off tomorrow.
President Kiir is among 45 African Heads of State invited to attend the second US-Africa Leaders’ Summit which will discuss peace and security, climate change, and food security on the continent.
Robert Scott, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs said earlier this month in the invitation that they expect the outcome of the summit to be deep and expand the US-Africa partnership.
“We expect some of the outcomes to be deepening and expanding reflection of our long-term US-Africa partnership while we advance our shared priorities to amplify African voices,” said Robert Scott.
Deng, however, did not reveal if the foreign minister will be in a position to raise issues pressing the country, especially, the calls to end the arms embargo imposed on South Sudan by the UN Security Council.
The first day of the summit will include back-to-back forums for different themes from the African diaspora, peace and security, and governance, among others. Day two is scheduled for the US-African business forum to explore investment opportunities on the continent.
The invitation, however, excluded countries like Sudan, Mali, and Burkina Faso where their leaders seized power through a military coup.