![Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, speaks to journalists in Juba, South Sudan on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/IMG_5260.jpg?resize=1024%2C516&ssl=1)
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Juba, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said they are working closely with Juba to connect the country with fiber optic cable.
“We are already providing the internet, you know, we have the capacity to provide fiber optic. It can also be, you know, a stretch to the Republic of South Sudan,” Ali said.
“We already have, you know, concrete projects with the Republic of South Sudan, but we need to do more.”
Ali said they are working to open corridors to boost trade between the two countries.
“That’s why we’re working on finding a way of a new corridor through Ethiopia to Djibouti, so that we can boost, you know, the trade level,” he said.
He said they want to diversify the number of corridors with South Sudan to offer more options for import and export of goods.
“And when the government decides that the road between Malakal and Gambela will be reconstructed, I think this is a very, very strong signal on how we would like to boost the relationship between Djibouti and the Republic of South Sudan.”
He said building infrastructure between the two countries will boost trade.
“You know, even the idea of constructing a new pipeline was put on the table to Ethiopia and Djibouti. And the Central African Republic needs to help also to use South Sudan as a transit point. So, this is an option also,” he said.
He said they have signed a number of agreements to boost diplomatic cooperation between the two countries, adding that both countries agreed to build Institutes of Diplomatic Studies.
“We have also signed an MOU, an agreement on the training of customs officers, ports and customs officers from the Republic of South Sudan in the institutions, specializing institutions in Djibouti. So, there are a number of things going on already,” he said.
