Deputy PM Demeke meets with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir 

Addis Ababa, December 16, 2021 (FBC) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen has conferred with President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit on bilateral issues of mutual interest.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke briefed President Salva Kiir the plan for an all inclusive dialogue in Ethiopia and related issues.

President Salva Kiir, for his part, assured Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke that he is confident that  Ethiopia is able to solve its problems and reaffirmed his country’s support to the territorial integrity, prace and stability of Ethiopia.

The discussion between the two high-level officials reviewed the longstanding relationship between the two countries with commitments to further cement it with extended engagements.

President Salva Kirr reaffirmed to the Deputy prime Minister and Foreign Minister that South Sudan will always stand in defense of Ethiopia’s peace, stability, security, and territorial integrity.

He said South Sudan would never accept undue interferences in the domestic affairs of Ethiopia and expressed his firm belief in Ethiopia’s capacity to solve its own problems through its own initiative.

Demeke, on his part, had briefed the President on the rationale of launching the law enforcement operation and subsequent conflict that was imposed on the government by the TPLF.

Demeke’s briefing also included the situations in the northern part of the country and the humanitarian supply to affected people by the conflict.

He said the reality on the ground is changing with new battlefield gains by the Ethiopian joint forces.

He also spoke in detail about the planned all-inclusive dialogue with stakeholders to return peace to Ethiopia.

The Deputy Prime Minister returned home after his successful one-day visit to South Sudan.