Egypt, South Sudan Discuss Boosting Cooperation

Egyptian and South Sudanese officials meet in Juba. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian and South Sudanese officials meet in Juba. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt, South Sudan Discuss Boosting Cooperation

Egyptian and South Sudanese officials meet in Juba. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian and South Sudanese officials meet in Juba. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt reiterated its commitment to advancing cooperation with South Sudan in all fields, underscoring the directives of the Egyptian political leadership to support the Juba government.

On Friday, Egypt's Ambassador in Juba Moataz Moustafa Abdel Kader met with Minister of Trade and Industry of South Sudan Kuol Athian Mawein.

They discussed ways to advance cooperation in the fields of trade and industry between their countries, read a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Abdel Kader stressed the strength of the bilateral relations between Cairo and Juba and he underscored the directives of the Egyptian political leadership to develop all forms of cooperation with South Sudan.

He reviewed Egypt’s efforts to boost commercial cooperation with South Sudan, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of trade and industry last year, the organization of the first edition of the “Made in Egypt” exhibition in South Sudan to introduce Egyptian products, and the opening of the first branch of the National Bank of Egypt (NBE) in Juba last month.

Egypt and South Sudan share close relations. Cairo seeks to support the young state by providing the main basics to the government.

The Ministry statement said Athian expressed his gratitude for Egypt's support.

He said South Sudan aspires to complete the discussions held last year between the two countries’ ministries of trade and industry during the Egyptian-South Sudanese higher committee meeting.

The two sides discussed means to intensify training programs, capacity building and transfer of expertise in the trade and industry sectors, as well as prospects for upgrading the legal framework regulating the current trade and industrial cooperation.

They tackled potential opportunities for cooperation in the field of industrialization in South Sudan given the promising investment opportunities, especially in the areas of livestock, fishery resources, mining and pharmaceutical industry.



Aoun Condemns Attempts to Drag Lebanon Anew into Violence

FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
TT

Aoun Condemns Attempts to Drag Lebanon Anew into Violence

FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 17 January 2025, Lebanon, Baabda: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun speaks during a press conference at Baabda Palace. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned on Saturday Israel’s attempts to drag Lebanon once again into the endless “spiral of violence”, following Israeli claims that it had intercepted three missiles launched from south Lebanon.
A statement released by the Lebanese Presidency said that Aoun called for "avoiding any repercussions and ensuring control over any violations that could endanger the nation during these sensitive times."
Aoun has directed the Army Commander, General Rodolphe Haikal, to “take all necessary field measures to ensure the safety of citizens and conduct investigations regarding the incident”, added the statement.
Also in a statement, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, asked the Lebanese military to take all necessary measures in the south, but said the country did not want to return to war.
He reaffirmed that “only the state holds the authority to decide on matters of war and peace."
The Prime Minister also contacted Janine Plasschaert, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Representative in Lebanon, during which he urged the United Nations to "intensify international pressure on Israel to fully withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories”.
He emphasized that Israel’s “occupation violates UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire arrangements established by the previous government in November, to which Lebanon remains committed".

On Saturday, Israeli artillery and airstrikes hit south Lebanon after Israel said it had intercepted rockets fired from across the border, a clash endangering a shaky truce that ended a year-long war between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

That conflict marked the deadliest spillover of the Gaza war, rumbling across the border for months before escalating into a blistering Israeli offensive that wiped out Hezbollah's top commanders, many of its fighters and much of its arsenal.