Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir in Cairo on Sunday. Al-Sisi stressed Egypt's continued support and assistance to South Sudan in the current period, in connection with the implementation of the benefits of the revitalized peace agreement signed in 2018. The two sides discussed regional issues of common interest, mainly the developments in East Africa and the Horn of Africa and how to contain their potential repercussions on the rest of the countries in the region. They also discussed the developments of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, especially after the issuance of the recent presidential statement of the UN Security Council and its content of compliance by the parties to reach a fair and binding legal agreement over the dam's filling and operation within a short period. Egypt also supports South Sudan's efforts against the coronavirus pandemic, flood risks and the food crisis, as well as supporting Juba in upgrading various development sectors, especially in the areas of irrigation, health and education. The Egyptian presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady said that Al-Sisi stressed that this visit reflects the strength and uniqueness of the relationship between the two countries. He added that the relationship spans at the level of the political leadership, the two governments and the two peoples, praising the pace of the ongoing activities between the two countries. Egypt and South Sudan held the first Joint Higher Committee in Cairo in July 2021, which confirms the mutual interest in strengthening bilateral relations in various fields, and raising them to the level of a strategic partnership based on achieving the mutual benefit of the two countries. The President of South Sudan stressed the strength of the historical ties that unite the two brotherly countries, and his country's aspiration to advance bilateral cooperation with Egypt in all fields, especially in light of the pivotal role played by Egypt at the regional level in the African continent. President Kiir also affirmed that there are broad prospects for developing cooperation between the two countries in many fields, especially at the economic level. He expressed his country's aspiration to maximize these activities, and South Sudan's appreciation of Egypt's technical support over the past years.
