July 2, 2014(Nyamilepedia) — The South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and his deputy, James Wani Igga, have left the country, in different directions, leaving the opposition party in charge of the fragile state. The president imposed a dusk to dawn curfews on Friday but panic continues within the capital despite preparations for independent day celebrations.
While President Salva Kiir Mayardiit leads a huge delegation to Rwanda, his deputy took the other delegation to China. An insider from Juba reports that the president was accompanied by his Defense minister, Kuol Manyang Juuk, His foreign affairs minister, Dr. Mariel Benjamin and his presidency minister, Awan Guol Riak.
The short visit, which may take less than three days, was facilitated by the expensive Ethiopian airline. The delegation left Juba today, Wednesday, on Ethiopian airline and is expected to return tomorrow through the same airline or a Kenyan one.
On the other hand, the vice president, James Wani Igga has left the country for China on Friday last week. Vice president Igga was expected to spend approximately four days in Beijing, China, to negotiate loans, oil deals and to assure the communist party of China and the Chinese government of security and safety of their workers and oilfields in his country.
On Tuesday, July 2nd, Mr. Wani Igga met the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. Sources from Beijing report that Premier Li has vowed to strengthen cooperation with South Sudan in trade, agriculture, infrastructure construction and energy. Li, however, urges the government of South Sudan to protect and ensure the safety of Chinese and friends of China working in the world’s most fragile state.
Igga has vowed that his government will protect the Chinese workers and continue to seek peaceful means to end the current conflict in the country.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomuro, of South Sudan Democratic Forum is currently acting as the president in spite of the ruling party, SPLM.
In other reports, Dr. Machar of SPLM/A in Opposition believes that he will visit China because Chinese government supports IGAD peace process and therefore they should present their perspectives to China as well.
“I understand China is supporting the peace process. I was told China has paid 3 million US dollars to support the peace process. What China is doing is good. So, it is important they [the Chinese] know how we think so we still have to pay a visit china.” Dr. Machar said in an interview in Addis Ababa.
Machar is currently in South Africa on diplomatic mission as his deputy, Lt. Gen. Lado Gore, prepares to travel to USA as part of the opposition’s peace-finding tours.
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