South Sudan, Egypt deepen talks on Nile water cooperation, security

JUBA — Senior leaders from South Sudan and Egypt conducted a series of meetings in Cairo aimed at enhancing collaboration on water resource management and security and boosting diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Presidential advisor on security, Tut Gatluak, led a high-level delegation to Cairo last week, where he conveyed a message from President Salva Kiir Mayardit to his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Speaking to media at Juba International Airport upon return from Cairo on Friday, Amb. Monday Semaya K. Kumba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the meeting addressed bilateral and multilateral coordination.

“The two leaders discussed the status of the bilateral relations between Egypt and South Sudan, and they also discussed the conflict in Sudan, water cooperation, and security concerns and issues,” Kumba said.

He stated that they also talked about the overall political and economic situation in South Sudan, including the government’s preparations for conducting elections in December.

“While in Egypt, Honorable Tut Galuak Manime delivered a written letter from His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic, addressed to his brother, His Excellency Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.”

He said Presidential Envoy on Security Tut Gatluak also had very fruitful meetings with a number of officials, including the leaders of the South Sudanese community in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Kumba stated that he met with Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty, the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and they discussed the challenges faced by South Sudanese students in Egypt.

“We also discussed and reviewed the status of our bilateral relations and the conflict in Sudan, and we also discussed the situation of South Sudanese nationals and students in Egypt,” he said.

He added that “We have agreed to continue our consultations, our cooperation, and our bilateral engagements for the best benefit of our two countries.”