[ad_1]
(MENAFN – Daily News Egypt) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, to discuss the promotion of relations between the two countries. The meeting came on Saturday during President Al-Sisi’s first visit to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, since the country’s independence in 2011.
The two heads of state also discussed the latest developments related to the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations. South Sudan is one of the 11 countries in the Nile basin.
Both leaders agreed on the need to reach a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the Ethiopian dam, as well as to support cooperation between the countries of the Nile Basin to achieve development and avoid harming any of the parties.
Al-Sisi and Kiir held talks to review bilateral relations between the countries, peace and regional security. It was followed by a general meeting in the presence of delegations representing both countries.
“South Sudan is the future of Egypt’s water,” said Abbas Sharaky, a professor of water resources at Cairo University.
He added that Egypt has been working on various water projects in South Sudan, including the Gongly Canal, even before the GERD crisis.
Sharaky believes, however, that the talks between Al-Sisi and Kiir did not focus on the channel, despite the hopes that many may have.
He said South Sudan is not involved in the GERD talks, despite being a Nile Basin nation, as the Blue Nile, on which the Ethiopian dam was built, does not cross South Sudan.
During the meeting, President Al-Sisi affirmed the importance of the visit as a continuation of the distinguished relations between the two sister countries at the official and popular level. He added that the people of Egypt and South Sudan have a common destiny and future.
The president also affirmed Egypt’s interest in transferring its experience and providing technical support and capacity-building programs to South Sudan in various sectors.
In addition, he highlighted Cairo’s interest in boosting bilateral cooperation and enhancing its support directed at development efforts in South Sudan. This is particularly with the existence of broad prospects for the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries.
The meeting also addressed regional issues, particularly in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa. The discussions reflected a mutual understanding between the two leaders and agreed to intensify regular bilateral meetings between senior officials from the two countries.
Furthermore, President Al-Sisi praised President Kiir’s efforts in mediating between the Sudanese government and the revolutionary factions. These efforts resulted in the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement between the two parties last October.
For his part, President Kiir expressed his appreciation for his country’s relations with Egypt and expressed his desire to increase the activities of Egyptian companies in South Sudan. He also briefed his Egyptian counterpart on the situation and the ongoing peace process in the country.
MENAFN28112020000153011029ID1101201666
Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, integrity, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this item, please contact the supplier above.
