January 3rd 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – The British Minister of Defense – also referred to as Secretary of State for Defense – on Thursday met President Salva Kiir Mayardiit in Juba over the implementation of the peace deal signed in September last year.
The British Minister, Cavin Williamson, who was accompanied by the British Ambassador to Juba, Allison Blackburn, expressed the readiness of his country to support South Sudan in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed last year.
In a statement issued this afternoon following the meeting, the South Sudan Presidency announced the unannounced visit by the top British official.
“His Excellency, President Salva Kiir Mayardit met in his office at the State House on Thursday with the British Secretary of State for Defense, Cavin Williamson, accompanied by the British Ambassador to the country Allison Blackburn, in the presence of Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Dau and Ambassador Nixon Deng, Director of EU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,” the Presidency said in the statement extended to the Nyamilepedia.
South Sudan’s Defense Minister who spoke to the media alongside his British counterpart was quoted by the Presidential Press Unit assaying the meeting focussed on peace implementation.
“The President briefed the British Secretary of State for Defense on the course of implementation of the peace agreement in the country,” Defense Minister said during a statement to the press according to the PPU.
Minister Kuol Manyang further said President Kiir expressed “keenness of the government and the opposition to work together to implement the peace process in order to restore stability in the country.”
The British for his part, according to the Presidency statement, said that “the United Kingdom has close historical ties with South Sudan,” noting that “the peace agreement must be implemented well and the United Kingdom will continue its support for the peace process in the country.”
