Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will hold discussions with AU Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
The Deputy President arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday, said the Presidency.
Discussions between the leaders will be on efforts to help create peace and stability in South Sudan.
Their discussions will follow on the Deputy President’s visit to Juba in South Sudan where he held discussions with President Salva Kiir and other political role-players as per on-going efforts to help create peace and stability in the country.
“Deputy President Ramaphosa's visit comes within the context of ongoing consultations with the regional leadership on the peace process in South Sudan, which is led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as well as to hold discussions with President Salva Kiir and other SPLM leaders on the Intra-Party Dialogue,” said the Presidency.
Following talks in Addis Ababa, the Deputy President will proceed to Kampala and Dar es Salaam for further consultations on the peace process with President Yoweri Museveni and President Jakaya Kikwete respectively.
The visit to South Sudan by Deputy President Ramaphosa is the third since his appointment as Special Envoy of President Jacob Zuma.
South Africa has committed itself to working with other regional organisations, particularly IGAD and the African Union, in consolidating peace and stability in South Sudan while addressing the humanitarian challenges facing that country.
Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to return to South Africa on Friday. - SAnews.gov.za
