Egypt, South Sudan discuss technical assistance on water resources
April 17, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Southern Sudan president discussed yesterday with an Egyptian minister implementation of cooperation accords signed last year. The visiting minister reiterated Egypt commitment to provide water equipment to the autonomous government.
The President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit, accompanied by Joseph Duer Jakok, GOSS Minister for Irrigation and Water Resources, met with, the Egyptian Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation Mahmoud Abu Zeid.
Abu Zeid said that the purpose of his meeting was to reaffirm Egypt’s commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Egypt and the Southern Sudan.
On 9 August 2006, Egypt and Southern Sudan signed an agreement including extension of technical equipment, the assessment of water resources, forecast on flooding and drought as well as reviewing studies on Jonglei canal.
According to a statement to the press, the meeting had dealt with the issue of setting priorities for the water-geared support, which Egypt was committed to providing under the terms of the MoU. There were many possibilities, he said, but specifically mentioned capacity building and the construction of small-scale dams.
Joseph Duer, GOSS Minister for Irrigation and Water Resources, also made a statement, thanking the press for its interest in this subject.
He further explained that the MoU had related specifically to technical cooperation between Egypt and the Southern Sudan.
This was necessary, he said, because GOSS was newly established and had been knocking on many doors for technical help and support in this crucial area. As a result, he said, he was very pleased that Minister Abu Zeid was in Juba.
He planned to take the opportunity to show the visiting Minister around, to show him sites of specific interest. Many of Southern Sudan’s rivers, he said, were choked with reeds, and gauging systems were required in all the country’s major towns.
(ST)