(credit: twitter.com/alsisiofficial)    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Saturday, Nov.  28, 2020  met with the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit

DIPLOMATIC  TIMES  STAFF REPORT

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with the President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit on Saturday to discuss developments regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the situation in the East Africa region. It was the first visit to South Sudan by an Egyptian President.  el-Sisi said the talks also focused on strengthening existing cooperation between the two countries in water resources and irrigation, and to join efforts to maximize the utilization of the Nile River’s resources.  The talks also touched on several current regional and international issues of common interest, el-Sisi said, particularly the ongoing developments in the Horn of Africa and East Africa which he stressed are of strategic importance, and how to work to contain their potential repercussions on the region.  Stability in the Horn of Africa region is threatened by the escalating military conflict with Ethiopia in the  nation’s Tigray state. There have been reports of thousands killed and nearly 50,000 refugees fleeing Ethiopia to neighboring Sudan. 

“We agreed to coordinate our joint efforts in a way that achieves security and stability in the region, and preserves the interests of the peoples of the region in a framework of transparency and common interest.”

-Egypt President  El-Sisi

جانب من زيارة السيد الرئيس عبد الفتاح السيسي لدولة جنوب السودان، اليوم، في إطار مباحثات ثنائية معمقة لتعزيز الشراكة الاستراتيجية بين البلدين في مختلف المجالات. pic.twitter.com/gDkwscj52S

— Abdelfattah Elsisi (@AlsisiOfficial) November 28, 2020