October 22, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan is in diplomatic talks with leaders of the Gulf state nations to persuade the rival parties to the conflict in Sudan to accept a permanent ceasefire. South Sudan’s presidential adviser on security affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime said President Salva Kiir and his administration are engaging key leaders of the Gulf states for peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan. “The conflict in Sudan has grown in size and scale because of the regional and global dynamics and the Gulf states have leverage in the resolution. His excellency the president has approached the support of the states of Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to use their leverage and ties with the parties to the conflict in Sudan to help persuade them to end the conflict”, he told {Sudan Tribune} on Sunday. The South Sudanese official said the conflict in Sudan had caused many people to flee their homes into countries already struggling with their own social and economic distress. Manime disclosed that western countries and international organizations have now recognized Kiir’s effort and are trying to harmonize and unify efforts into a grand initiative before the resumption of the talk. “Initially, the conflict in Sudan was something each country thought was a simple thing to address without the involvement of others”, he stressed. For his part, the deputy Information minister, Jacob Maiju Korok told the state-owned television {SSBC} on Friday that the council of ministers listened to an elaborate presentation by the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management on the directive of the president to seek support from the Gulf countries. “The cabinet received a presentation from Albino Akol Atak, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, regarding his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait”, he explained. He said three of the Gulf states visited by the minister were willing to support South Sudan’s humanitarian aid efforts. “The three Gulf states visited by the minister have the willingness to support South Sudan by delivering humanitarian aid in support to Sudanese refugees,” said Korok. The visit of the minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management was an opportunity to discuss the cooperation agreements signed between the governments of South Sudan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 24 January 2022. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requested the government of South Sudan to ratify this agreement and all the support attached to the agreement. (ST)