The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met the chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) for the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan Festus Mogae in Cairo yesterday. El-Sisi and Mogae discussed regional efforts to restore peace in Juba and the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also attended the meeting.

Fighting and violence between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar has plagued the state of South Sudan for more than two years, raising fears of instability in East Africa where the fighting has led to the deaths of more than 10,000 people and the displacement of more than two million others.

The presidential spokesperson Ambassador Alaa Youssef said that President El-Sisi welcomed Mogae and emphasised Egypt’s support for the efforts of the JMEC in order to implement the peace settlement agreement and restore peace and stability in South Sudan, particularly in light of the distinguished relations between Egypt and South Sudan.

El-Sisi also confirmed that Egypt will continue to make efforts with the different parties concerned in order to restore calm in South Sudan after the tension that it experienced recently. He added that Egypt will continue to provide development programmes in many fields which will contribute to the acceleration of the development process in South Sudan.

Youssef also explained that Mogae expressed his appreciation of the efforts that Egypt has made to bring together the various parties in South Sudan during the meeting. He also noted the importance of Egypt’s role in Africa and its constant defence of African interests, particularly in light of Egypt’s membership of the UN Security Council and the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC).

The chairman of the JMEC also reviewed recent developments in South Sudan. He was referring to recent clashes and unrest that led to the complicated situation on the ground which necessitates urging the different parties to overcome differences and work on fully implementing the agreement for a peaceful settlement.

Ambassador Youssef also explained that the current situation in South Sudan and regional and UN efforts to restore peace that include the proposal put forward by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) to deploy a regional protection force under the auspices of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan were discussed during the meeting.

President El-Sisi also stressed Egypt’s support for all efforts to restore security and stability in South Sudan and referred to Egypt’s keenness to consult its government and the governments of African members of the Security Council regarding the proposed deployment of a regional protection force in an effort to reach a consensus on how best to restore calm and push forward the peace process and a political settlement in the country.