South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit left the country Saturday morning for South Africa for what his office said is to hold talks with his counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a statement at Juba International Airport, Arek Aldo Deng, the president’s press secretary, said the discussions will focus on deepening historical ties and expanding cooperation in areas including the economy, institutional development, and capacity building.
Deng said the visit follows up on a meeting between Kiir and Ramaphosa in Addis Ababa last month and builds on a previous visit by South Sudan’s presidential special envoy to South Africa.
She described the trip as a step toward strengthening the relationship between the two nations. The statement did not provide details on the duration of President Kiir’s visit to South Africa.
The trip comes amid speculation that the president is travelling for a medical checkup.
President Kiir was seen off by senior government and military officials, including Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga, who also serves as his deputy in the ruling SPLM party.
This is Kiir’s second international trip this year. He previously traveled to Addis Ababa on Feb. 13 with a high-level delegation to attend the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, where leaders discussed continental priorities, including water management and sanitation.
African leaders meeting on the margins of that summit agreed on a roadmap to support South Sudan’s political transition, advance peace, and prepare for elections in December this year.
They called for inclusive dialogue, the release of detained political figures, including opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar, and the full implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.