Egyptian president hails ‘strategic relations’ with South Sudan

CAIRO, EGYPT – Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi has promised that his country will intensify bilateral relations with South Sudan in various fields including in the political, economic and security fields hailing relations between Juba and Cairo as ‘strategic’.

Al-Sisi made the remarks during a joint press conference he hail with visiting South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit who flew to Cairo during the morning hours of Sunday for a two-day state visit.

“I would like to express my deep pride in the fraternal and strategic relations that unite our two countries at various levels, based on a common political will to preserve those relations and even strengthening in the coming period,” Al-Sisi told the presser.

He said he and President Kiir discussed the development of the relations between Cairo and Juba and that they have agreed to and also discussed a follow-up on a July 2021 meetings between a huge South Sudan delegation and Egyptian officials.

“I held intensive bilateral talks with my brother the President, which dealt with ways to strengthen and develop bilateral relations at various political, economic and security levels, and the momentum the relations between the two countries witnessed during the past period in various fields of cooperation, as we followed up on the results of the first session of the Joint Higher Committee in Cairo in July 2021, and the opportunity it provided for coordination and consultation, in addition to the resulting agreements signed between the two sides in the fields of irrigation and the development of trade and industry,” President Al-Sisi said.

“We also agreed on the importance of giving an executive push to launch the relations between the two countries to broad prospects for bilateral cooperation, by increasing the rates of trade exchange between the two countries, increasing Egyptian investments in South Sudan, facilitating the access of Egyptian exports to it, as well as intensifying cooperation in the field of capacity building from through the training programs offered by Egypt in various fields, in addition to reviving a number of Egyptian projects in South Sudan and launching new projects, as well as increasing the number of educational grants offered to South Sudanese to study in Egyptian universities, and providing them with more facilities, as well as working to restore Rehabilitation of Egyptian power stations in southern Sudan,” he added.

The Egyptian head of state “reaffirmed during the talks that Egypt will remain a strong support for the brothers in South Sudan, and will continue its efforts to support all means of promoting peace, stability and development there, and will continue to work to support the national South Sudanese efforts aimed at consolidating the foundations of peace and internal stability, and in terms of it opens prospects for development and prosperity for the masses of the South Sudanese people, and preserves the structures and institutions of the state and its capabilities, in order to continue the path of stabilizing peace, achieving development and addressing the roots of the challenges that exist there.”

“In this regard, I affirmed Egypt’s full support for President Salva Kiir’s efforts to achieve peace in the country, and for the efforts made by the various parties to move forward in implementing the transitional phase’s benefits in accordance with the revitalized peace agreement,” Al-Sisi added.

Al-Sisi added that the two men “also exchanged views on a number of current regional and international issues of common interest, on top of which are the current developments in East Africa and the Horn of Africa, and how to work to contain their potential repercussions on the rest of the region. We agreed to continue joint coordination in a way that achieves security and stability in the region, and preserves the interests of the peoples of the region within a framework of responsibility and common interest.”

“The discussions also touched on various aspects related to Nile water issues, and the existing and ongoing coordination between the two countries in this regard, in addition to reviewing the current developments in the Renaissance Dam issue, as they re-emphasized the need to reach a binding legal agreement regulating the filling and operation of the Renaissance Dam, based on the To the rules of international law and the outcomes of the Security Council in this regard, which would enhance stability in the region as a whole, and open the horizon for cooperation among the Nile Basin countries.

“Your Excellency, President Salva Kiir, I was pleased to meet you today, and what it reflected in the convergence of the two countries’ visions on all issues, which is a distinctive feature of the strong relations that unite our two countries. I look forward to more close cooperation for the common interest, and I wish South Sudan all the best and stability I renew my welcome to you and the delegation accompanying your Excellency in your second country, Egypt.”