In Pics: Sisi affirms backing South Sudan's peace agreement

 

CAIRO - 17 January 2019: Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi affirmed on Thursday Egypt's keenness to ensure the stability and security of the people of South Sudan during his meeting with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Cairo.

In his meeting with Kiir, President Sisi lauded the peace agreement that has recently "come into effect" in South Sudan, affirming that Egypt will always support the South Sudanese people's peace-building, reconstruction, stabilization and development efforts."

"We are committed to providing all forms of political and technical support to [help] the full implementation of the activated peace agreement," Sisi stated.

"We also call upon the international community to fulfill its obligation and commitments towards South Sudan in its march towards a better future," Sisi stated.

Sisi lauded the"constructive role"played by Kiir in the region, especially efforts to mediate between the South Sudanese government and the main rebel group in the country, SPLM-IO. Concerning bilateral relations, Sisi highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination between Egypt and South Sudan on both official and public levels to meet the inspirations of the peoples of the two countries.

The relations between Egypt and South Sudan currently witness unprecedented prosperity in various aspects of cooperation, Sisi said, affirming that Egypt was among the first countries to support the people and government of the nascent state of South Sudan.

"The Nile River will continue to be a historic symbol for the relations and ties between our two brotherly peoples," Sisi stated.

Sisi said that the discussions reflected the determination of the two countries to advance the level of bilateral relations and bring them to the level of strategic partnership, adding that it will enable Egypt and South Sudan"to make optimum use of the economic and investment opportunities existing in the two countries."

Sisi also highlighted the need to cooperate in the fields of education, agriculture and irrigation through the existing mechanisms, which contribute to achieving sustainable development.

The two presidents also exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest, according to Sisi.

“I am so grateful and thankful for the utmost efforts Egypt and its President al-Sisi exert to Sudan before its independency,” Salva Kiir Mayardit said, adding “Egypt always gives us a hand in all dilemmas.”

In July 2011, South Sudan declared independence in line with a January referendum that was the culmination of a 2005 peace deal ending decades of civil war with the north. In the same month, Egypt formally announced recognizing the country, MENA news agency reported.

South Sudan suffered a civil war in 2013 following a political disagreement between Riek Machar, a former vice president, and Kiir. Several attempts to end the conflict failed.

In July 2018, South Sudan’s government and SPLM-IO signed a power-sharing deal in the Sudanese capital with the aim of ending years of conflict.

The agreement stipulates creating a new 35-member government comprising 20 ministers from the current government of Salva Kiir. The SPLM-IO will have nine portfolios, while the remaining portfolios will go to other opposition groups.

Additional reporting by Fatma Bakry