Kiir congratulates Ethiopia for ‘successful’ second filling of controversial mega dam

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has congratulated neighboring Ethiopia’s government on the successful second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during his Thursday trip in which he was received at Bole International Airport by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed along with other senior Ethiopian government officials.

The presidency announced earlier on Thursday that President Kiir, who was accompanied to Ethiopia by ministers of foreign affairs, cabinet affairs, presidential affairs, and governor of Jonglei state, was to discuss important issues pertaining to bilateral relations between the two countries.

In a statement following the meeting, the Ethiopian foreign ministry said President Kiir congratulated the Ethiopian government for the recently concluded elections in which Dr. Abiy won by a landslide and also commend Abiy for the successful second filling of the GERD.

“President Salva Kiir on his part congratulated the Prime Minister and the Government for the peaceful conclusion of the 6^thNational Election,” the Ethiopian foreign ministry statement seen by Sudans Post reads in part.

“He also commended the successful second filling of the GERD and reaffirmed that South Sudan’s continues to attach great importance to the relations with Ethiopia,” the statement further reads.

The statement further said Kiir also “condemned the attack of the Northern Command by TPLF which initiated an armed conflict and appreciated the Government’s effort to safeguard the Constitutional order, highlighting non-interference by external parties in Ethiopia’s current domestic challenge.”