CAIRO, July 7 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s aspiration for South Sudan to successfully complete its transitional phase and advance toward the establishment of a stable and cohesive state at the political, economic, and social levels.

During a phone call on Monday the minister of foreign affairs discussed with South Sudanese Foreign Minister Semaya Kumba bilateral relations and regional developments of mutual concern.

Abdelatty urged all parties in South Sudan to support the transitional process, foster consensus, prioritize the national interest and fully leverage the assistance provided by the international community and regional organizations.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s keenness on the security and stability of South Sudan, emphasizing the importance of advancing bilateral cooperation in line with the shared interests of both countries.

The foreign minister also highlighted the deep-rooted mutual interests between Egypt and South Sudan in the various sectors, underscoring the importance of enhancing bilateral coordination.

Abdelatty noted the steady growth of Egyptian investments in South Sudan over the past decade, particularly in the fields of education, agriculture, irrigation, and healthcare.

He said the issue of Nile waters is existential for Egypt and that Egypt looks forward to a constructive stance from South Sudan - within the framework of achieving consensus in the Nile Basin Initiative - to address the concerns of the basin countries and to serve as a bridge for reaching solutions that ensure the realization of the shared interests of the Nile Basin states.

For his part, Kumba commended longstanding historical ties between the two countries and reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Egypt in all areas.

He also expressed South Sudan’s understanding of Egypt’s water-related concerns and affirmed his country’s commitment to engage constructively with Egypt in pursuit of their shared interests. (MENA)

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