A planned initialling of a peace deal between South Sudan rival leaders in Khartoum appeared uncertain on Thursday, as Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi starts his official visit to Sudan today.

South Sudanese negotiators are expecting delays for a peace agreement to be initialled because Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi would arrive in Khartoum on his first visit since he has been re-elected for a second term.

South Sudan’s Minister of Information Michael Makuei told state media on Wednesday night that he believes the initialling of the revised post-Entebbe proposal is unlikely to happen on Thursday as planned.

“The signing ceremony may not be tomorrow (Thursday) if it is to be signed, because the government of Sudan is receiving an important guest, and that is President al-Sisi,” he said.

“So the signing may be on Friday in case the parties agree to sign it,” he added.

Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, said their leadership in Juba expressed reservations about several provisions of the peace proposal, including the proposed power sharing and number of states.

“The mediators should make sure that they incorporate the positions of the parties so that it is agreed. But in case of any disagreement definitely those who may agree with it will initial it, and those who will not agree with it may not initial it,” he said.

“We have not yet decided to sign it,” he added.