Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki received on Thursday an envoy sent by President Salva Kiir to discuss a ‘special message’ from the South Sudanese leader, the Eritrean Ministry of Information said in a statement.

The ministry disclosed that Afwerki received and held talks with Peter Beshir Gbandi, the deputy minister of foreign affairs, adding “The official came here with a special message from the South Sudan leader.”

“In his message, President Salva Kiir said that the people of South Sudan attach great value to the existing ties between the two countries based on mutual cooperation in struggle, and asserted readiness to enhance such relations,” the Eritrean ministry stated.

The Asmara government added, “President Isaias assured President Salva Kiir through the envoy of the abiding support of the Eritrean people and their leadership to the people and Government of South Sudan. The two sides conducted extensive discussion regarding ways and means of resolving the current crisis in South Sudan.”

Eritrea’s neighbor Ethiopia is taking a leading role in the mediation of South Sudan’s peace talks, since they hold the chairmanship of IGAD, the regional organization from which Eritrea was suspended in 2007.

Earlier this week the South Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that Gbandi’s delegation left Juba on Saturday. Gbandi was accompanied by Ambassador Lazaro Akui and his office director, Hassan Yousif Ngor.

Mayen Makol, spokesman of the South Sudanese Foreign Ministry, in recent remarks alluded to rumors of Eritrean support to the South Sudanese opposition, saying these rumors were “a lot of talk,” and insisting that relations were cooperative.

Photo: Peter Bashir Gbandi, May 2010 (Pete Muller)