South Sudanese Vice President James Wani Igga arrived in Cairo on Monday as part of a group attending the first round of Joint Higher Committee talks with Egypt. The South Sudanese delegation includes the ministers of foreign affairs, international cooperation, livestock, trade and industry, irrigation, higher education, and science and technology.
The signature of a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding is expected at the joint higher committee’s upcoming meetings, according to a cabinet statement. Following a round of meetings, Igga was welcomed by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the cabinet headquarters, where the two conducted a press conference in the presence of ministers from both nations. The joint committee meetings indicated the presidents’ desire to improve trade and investment links, according to Madbouly, who spoke at the conference. Egypt “completely” supports South Sudanese attempts to achieve peace across the country and build on the peace agreement agreed by the transitional government and rebel factions last year, according to Madbouly.
The historic deal was reached in the South Sudanese capital Juba in October 2020, putting an end to decades of regional hostilities that have left millions of people displaced and hundreds of thousands dead. Ministers and leaders of governments from neighboring nations, including Madbouly, were present at the signing ceremony. According to the Egyptian Prime Minister, the talks also covered a variety of regional problems of mutual importance.
Given that 95 percent of South Sudan’s land is fertile, Igga urged Egyptian businessmen to work with his country in the agriculture sector.
The Egyptian-South Sudanese higher committee will hold its inaugural meeting, with members of the South Sudanese delegation and their Egyptian counterparts, to explore bilateral cooperation in a variety of disciplines. The delegation’s tour will come to a close with the signing of many cooperative memorandums of understanding.
