Indian Minister of State V Muraleedharan to complete Sudan and South Sudan trip
India’s Minister of State V Muraleedharan concludes his visit to Sudan and South Sudan today, his first visit to both countries.
Muraleedharan met with South Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mayiik Ayii Deng and the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly Jemma NunuKumba.
Muraleedharan also visited a UN Mission in South Sudan hospital operated by Indian Army peacekeepers and addressed the Indian community in the capital, Juba. India and the UN are providing some protection and medical treatment for internally displaced people who have been adversely affected by seasonal flooding.
The visit is part of a push to revitalize talks between the Transitional Government and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance. At issue, South Sudan is still deadlocked on forming a new constitution to ensure a fair distribution of powers. Yet talks still seem a distant reality with violence continuing to break out within and between factions.
With rampant corruption and inter-ethnic violence plaguing South Sudan, expect the humanitarian crisis and political stalemate to continue indefinitely despite this visit and the international community’s best intentions. What’s more, the situation is only likely to worsen in the medium-term as long as inter-faction rivalries inhibit diplomatic talks.
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