Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, revealed the initiation of eight groundwater drinking water stations powered by solar energy in Central Equatoria and Jonglei states in South Sudan in January.
Sweilem explained that the implementation began in LoboNok County, Central Equatoria State, to establish three stations. Additionally, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of South Sudan sent a joint work team to visit Yuror County in Jonglei State to start the procedures for implementing two stations, aimed at providing safe and clean drinking water for citizens. This reflects positively on improving their quality of life and reducing health risks associated with water.
He added that this project is part of bilateral cooperation projects between the two countries, aiming to implement developmental projects that directly benefit the citizens of South Sudan.
The Minister of Irrigation received a report from Dr. Arif Gharib, Head of the Nile Water Affairs Sector, on the status of bilateral cooperation projects between Egypt and South Sudan in the field of water resources and irrigation, especially in providing clean drinking water.
The report highlighted the cooperation between the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and its counterpart in South Sudan to implement 20 groundwater drinking stations over the past years; to provide drinking water to about 100,000 citizens of South Sudan. These wells are equipped with solar energy to reduce operational costs in remote areas and to achieve operational sustainability.
Furthermore, the ministry is implementing projects to reduce the risks of rain and dams for rainwater harvesting; to benefit from it during drought times.
Dr. Sweilem emphasized that Egypt brings goodness to the citizens of South Sudan through its developmental projects amid the deep and extensive Egyptian-South Sudanese relations on all levels.
Recent cooperation between Egypt and South Sudan has seen significant advancements, particularly in military collaboration and development projects. In January 2024, South Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Egypt to enhance military cooperation. This agreement came after the South Sudanese Minister of Defense and Federal Affairs, Chol Thon Balok, attended the Egyptian Defense Expose Summit in 2023. The MoU aims to operationalize military cooperation in the near future, with plans for further discussions and implementation of the agreement.
Additionally, Egypt and South Sudan have agreed to boost cooperation in various fields, underscoring their commitment to advance and expand bilateral relations. This comprehensive partnership aims to cover a range of areas from trade and investment to energy and educational initiatives, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of the relationship between the two nations.
