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.



Trump Victory Fuels Fears of Netanyahu’s Increased Freedom in Lebanon

Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)
Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)
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Trump Victory Fuels Fears of Netanyahu’s Increased Freedom in Lebanon

Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)
Smoke rises from Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli attacks. (AFP)

Lebanese are watching closely after Donald Trump’s election as US president, hoping his policies might bring solutions to regional crises and possibly halt wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Observers caution, however, that change won’t be immediate or at Israel’s expense; instead, they expect Israel could have more military leeway before peace efforts begin.

Trump didn’t outline his plans to end conflicts during his victory speech, only briefly mentioning the issue.

Fares Soeid, a former Lebanese MP, called Trump’s win a potential global turning point, particularly in conflict zones like Ukraine and the Middle East. Soeid believes Trump’s support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s far-right may intensify.

Soeid told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump’s election could hasten military actions on the Lebanese-Israeli border, allowing Netanyahu more freedom to secure military objectives and strengthen Israel’s negotiating position.

He suggested key UN resolutions intended to control arms in Lebanon may lose focus, with the goal shifting to place all weapons under state control.

There is concern in Lebanon over any change to Resolution 1701, which maintains the ceasefire with Israel.

Soeid clarified that Trump might not scrap these resolutions outright but could push for tighter arms restrictions, ensuring only Lebanon’s government holds power over weapons.

He believes the US may aim to create a cohesive Lebanese leadership to enforce these measures, essentially enabling Netanyahu more flexibility in regional matters.

The US election drew intense interest in Lebanon, with citizens and officials closely tracking the campaigns and vote results, hoping for a positive shift.

Lebanese politician Khaldoun Sharif noted that Trump reached out to Lebanese Americans during his campaign, promising to bring peace to Lebanon quickly.

He sees Trump’s advisor, Lebanese-born Massad Boulos, as potentially instrumental in highlighting Lebanon’s needs to the new administration.

Sharif criticized the outgoing Democratic administration’s handling of conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, saying it failed to curb Netanyahu’s plans despite multiple ceasefire proposals.

As Trump prepares to take office on January 20, Sharif emphasized that Lebanon is eager for a complete ceasefire, adherence to Resolution 1701, a consensus-backed president, and a transparent, reform-oriented government to rebuild trust with Arab nations and the international community.

Sharif voiced disappointment that past US administrations have often overlooked Lebanon’s significance.

Now, amid a severe conflict, he hopes Trump will act swiftly to end the violence, support reconstruction, and restore Lebanon’s standing on the regional stage.