South Sudan President Kiir Discusses Election Legal Preparations in South Africa

South Sudan President Salva Kiir returned to the capital Juba on Sunday after a week-long working visit to South Africa, where he held talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa on preparations for elections due in December and bilateral relations. Kiir travelled to South Africa on Aug. 23 for talks with Ramaphosa as South Sudan prepares for a presidential and legislative vote scheduled for Dec. 22. During a meeting in Tshwane on Thursday, Kiir briefed Ramaphosa on progress towards the elections, including legal preparations, election administration and logistics, security and political dialogue, according to Kiirs office. The South African presidency said the two leaders also discussed economic cooperation, institutional development and capacity building. Kiirs office said the president outlined remaining technical and legal requirements and measures needed to ensure a peaceful, credible, transparent and inclusive electoral process. The visit also focused on implementation of South Sudans 2018 peace agreement and strengthening cooperation between Juba and Pretoria, according to the presidents office. The visit came ahead of renewed engagement by the African Unions High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan, known as the C5, which is expected to focus on implementation of the peace agreement and preparations for the elections. Kiir was received at Juba International Airport by senior government officials and security chiefs on Sunday.