Cairo, Egypt – The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD), and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) organized a training workshop for the Leadership Team of the National Dialogue Steering Committee from 25-28 February 2018.
 
Assistant Foreign Minister for Sudan and South Sudan Affairs Hossam Eissa inaugurated the workshop on behalf of H.E. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, highlighting Egypt’s support to South Sudan on political, humanitarian and developmental affairs. Eissa indicated the importance of the training workshop and its critical timing - as it was organized during a sensitive period for the future of South Sudan.
 
Nayadang Dei Wal, Ambassador of South Sudan to Egypt, expressed her gratitude to Egypt and to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for supporting South Sudan, and pointed out that the national dialogue is a comprehensive and inclusive process for all parties in South Sudan.
 
The National Dialogue Steering Committee was established by a presidential decree in 2016, with the aim of presenting political leadership with policy recommendations to achieve ten goals, most importantly, ending the conflict and achieving national unity in South Sudan. It consists of 16 subcommittees that conduct consultations with all South Sudanese citizens, including refugees in neighboring countries.
 
The training workshop comes within the framework of MoFA’s support towards building the capacities of committee members and proposing a comprehensive and practical approach to achieving reconciliation by sharing Egyptian expertise with South Sudanese representatives in the areas of mediation and negotiation, organizing elections, and establishing national institutions. Eight members of the National Dialogue Steering Committee attended the workshop.
 
The delegation also attended a series of visits organized by MoFA to (i) the House of Representatives - to present the Egyptian experience in the establishment of the Council of Representatives; (ii) Nasser Military Academy - to present the Egyptian model in establishing a unified military institution; and (iii) the National Elections Commission - to present the Egyptian model in organizing elections.