Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
September 14, 2009 (CAIRO) — The Egyptian government for the first time appeared resigned to the inevitability of a “Yes” vote in the 2011 referendum in South Sudan on whether they should establish their own state.
The statements come in contrast to more hard-line ones made by Omer’s boss Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in July in which he warned that separation of South Sudan would lead to proliferation of poverty and internal conflict within the new state.
Omer said that Cairo has carefully examined all possibilities in this regard adding that the Egypt has a “strong” presence in South Sudan.
“We in the South are not meager [in terms of presence] with heavy [presence] more than anybody else with strong ties with the brothers in the South in addition to a number of hospitals and experts there” she said.
Egypt has historically been wary of splitting Sudan up for fear that it will affect its share of the Nile waters, which it considers its lifeline.
But the Egyptian official downplayed any possible issues on the Nile water share arising from an independent South Sudan.
“The framework agreement achieves the goals of states including those of South Sudan if it separates,” Omer said.
“The problem of the Nile basin countries is not in lack of water but in misuse,” she said.
Egypt with the aid of Sudan fought a fierce battle in July to stall an attempt by other Nile basin countries to amend the 1929 & 1959 agreements that grants Cairo the lion’s share in the river water.
With almost 80 million people, Egypt’s water demand is projected to exceed its supply by 2017, according to a government reported published last month.
The Egyptian irrigation minister Mohamed Nasr Al-Deen Allam is currently in Sudan to “coordinate views and positions” before the next round of Nile basin countries meetings.
Egypt and South Sudan are also in disagreement over the Jonglei canal which is a hydro-construction project in Upper Nile Province of southern Sudan designed to alter the course of the White Nile as it passes through a swampy area in southern Sudan known as the Sudd.
According to Egyptian officials, the purpose of the canal was to ensure the flow of 4.7 billion cubic meters of water annually, to be equally distributed between Egypt and Sudan. However, the canal project was put to a halt in 1983 following the outbreak of the North-South civil war.
(ST)
oshay
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
Whatever happens happens, North and South are two different people and civilizations. I believe it is best for the South to be independent to prove to the world whether it can actually achieve anything. However I’m inclined to believe the 6 Billion barrels of oil will be depleted and the South will be back to square 1.
Wal P Muoranyar Biet
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
Thanks Egypt for finally realizing the grievance of the Cush.
And to you Oshay, oil or no oil, and square one or square zero, shut your mouth, lift your ugly fingers off the computer and get ready for the independence of South Sudan, the would be Cush.
Ahmed
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
a United Sudan can be stronger then Egypt!! but oo well! Egypt is already scared of us even tho we are in war with each other!
Independence south will not only hart Sudan whole but all africa will somehow feel the effect
BUSTA 2
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
Let South Sudan have its independence to suffer!!
If Egypt support South for independence it would be good but I can see danger how South Sudan will suffer just within one year of its independence.
Kiir will never be agood president whatever, he may prove to be people to be good leader insteady the corrupt leader.
Brother in Christ,
Busta 2
Dennis-the Brain
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
no deal with Egyptian Government
Ahmed
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
I hop south sudan independence dosent mean the end of south sudan people and north relation! I hope they wouldnt look at each other differently!!
If south kordoufan in south sudan then I visited south sudan!! because I went to south kourdufan with my school ilzaamiya
Ahmed
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
I seriously want all south sudanese to admit that they werent treated bad in khartoum thats a lie!! nobody cares about anybody in khartoum nobody have time to look and find if a person is south sudanese to insult him no time!! people wanna make their living no time for stuff like this
Gatwech
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
Dear readers,
This is just for clarity because it appears that some people use foreign words of which meanings they don’t even know. And especially when they use it as an insult on others.
What does the word ’Nyagat’ mean? From where does it originate in the 1980s? For those of us who were in Ethiopia, the word ’Nyagat’ came from the Ethiopian Amharic language word ’negade’ which means capitalist, business people, traders, etc.
It was used by the SPLM/A at that time because of influence from communist or socialist Ethiopia that rejected capitalism. They called them bourgeousie.
But does the SPLM still believe in the sytem of communism and hate capitalists to still call them with the twisting tongue, ’Nyagat.?’ I thought we have already gone capitalist.
The description was originally aimed at those of Samuel Gai Tut who rejected socialism as a system the movement would follow and also demanded separation of the South from the North as the objective that the SPLM/A would have followed from the beginning. They didn’t like new Sudan idea which was copied from new Ethiopia of President Mengistu’s slogan.
It is very interesting that the word ’Nyagat’ has become a frequently used insult by those who do not even know its meaning. I love the origin of the word despite its misunderstood intention by users.
Dengtaath
Egypt says preparing for possibility of South Sudan independence
Is pretty clear joke from Cairo, Egypt is the worst enemy of South Sudan, what ever policy they want to establish with South including the Canal initiative is harmful and no body can accept that.
I wish government of South Sudan to look carefully at Egypt.
They are still killing our people in Egypt up to now we talk,they not people we can trust, they mistreat every body even women in the delivery wards. Wish God curs them