Egypt, South Sudan Agree on Boosting Cooperating in All Fields

Egypt's Ambassador to South Sudan Moataz Moustafa Abdel Kader meets with South Sudan's Minister of Energy and Dams Peter Marcello. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egypt's Ambassador to South Sudan Moataz Moustafa Abdel Kader meets with South Sudan's Minister of Energy and Dams Peter Marcello. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt, South Sudan Agree on Boosting Cooperating in All Fields

Egypt's Ambassador to South Sudan Moataz Moustafa Abdel Kader meets with South Sudan's Minister of Energy and Dams Peter Marcello. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egypt's Ambassador to South Sudan Moataz Moustafa Abdel Kader meets with South Sudan's Minister of Energy and Dams Peter Marcello. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt's Ambassador to South Sudan Moataz Moustafa Abdel Kader and South Sudan's Minister of Energy and Dams Peter Marcello stressed on Friday their countries’ commitment to advance and expand cooperation in all fields.

They met in Juba to review the close brotherly relations between their countries, read a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

It said Abdel Kader underscored the directives of the Egyptian political leadership to develop all forms of cooperation with South Sudan in various vital sectors.

The ambassador reviewed Egypt's efforts made to support the energy sector and its ongoing progress in rehabilitating and operating power stations in the southern Sudan towns of Rumbek and Yambio.

He expressed "Egypt’s readiness to intensify training programs, capacity building and transfer of expertise to qualify South Sudanese workers" in the energy sector.

For his part, Marcello stressed his great appreciation for Egypt’s continuous support to South Sudan, praising the level of advanced cooperation between the countries in the energy sector, particularly electrical projects. H also cited the establishment of a solar power plant to integrate renewable energy in South Sudan.

Separately, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar met in Cairo on Friday with his South Sudanese counterpart, Gabriel Changson Chang, to discuss cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

Abdel Ghaffar stressed the "deepness of relations between Egypt and South Sudan," noting that Cairo pays special attention to Africa, especially the Nile Basin countries.

He announced that his country aims to provide full support to Sudanese students studying in Egyptian universities in all disciplines.

For his part, Changson Chang stressed the "distinguished and strong relations" between the two countries and he expressed South Sudan’s aspiration to benefit from the Egyptian scientific expertise in promoting the higher education, science and technology system.



UNIFIL Affirms Freedom of Movement Amid Tensions in South Lebanon

Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
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UNIFIL Affirms Freedom of Movement Amid Tensions in South Lebanon

Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)
Residents inspect the damage to a building following an Israeli strike on the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon on Thursday night into Friday (AFP)

The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reaffirmed its authority to move freely and conduct patrols with or without Lebanese army presence, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The statement came after an incident in the town of Srifa, where local residents intercepted a UNIFIL patrol. A man climbed onto a UN vehicle and raised a Hezbollah flag in protest over the absence of a Lebanese army escort.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, which has been in place since November 2023.

Southern Lebanese villages, particularly those south of the Litani River, appeared nearly deserted during the Eid al-Adha holiday. In contrast to the crowds seen during Eid al-Fitr, most streets were empty, with only a few remaining residents visible.

The destruction caused by Israeli attacks has prevented many from returning to their homes in border villages. Continuous drone surveillance and frequent airstrikes have further discouraged residents from even briefly visiting their damaged properties.

Those who did visit on the first day of Eid described their trips as “urgent and brief,” citing the persistent threat of renewed attacks.

Israeli forces have been accused of several violations in recent days. Local media reported the abduction of a Lebanese shepherd near the town of Shebaa, as well as the injury of a civilian after an Israeli drone dropped two stun grenades in the town of Houla. Heavy machine gun fire was also reported near the towns of Rmeish and Aita al-Shaab.

UNIFIL confirmed the Srifa incident, with spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stating that a group of civilians stopped a scheduled patrol. “The peacekeepers were able to resume their duties after the Lebanese army intervened,” he said.

Tenenti emphasized that Resolution 1701 grants UNIFIL full freedom of movement, adding: “While we coordinate closely with the Lebanese army, freedom of movement is essential to fulfill our mandate.”

Incidents involving local opposition to UNIFIL patrols have become more frequent in recent weeks. With more than 400 patrols conducted daily in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army is unable to accompany all of them due to limited manpower.

UNIFIL continues to view its presence as vital to regional stability, and discussions are underway to extend its mandate beyond August.