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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)
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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.

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Fishers at a Lebanese Port Hope Ceasefire with Israel Means Normal Life is Returning

Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)
Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)
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Fishers at a Lebanese Port Hope Ceasefire with Israel Means Normal Life is Returning

Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)
Most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the Tyre port have not sailed out of concern since the Israeli army in October barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers from the order. (AP)

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brought hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon on Friday, including fishermen who have long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn.
During the last two months of its year fighting Hezbollah, Israel imposed a siege on southern Lebanon that kept hundreds of fishers at this ancient Phoenician port on shore, upending their lives and the industry.
While less important than destruction and displacement, the port siege cut many people off from the key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes like sayadiyeh — fish and rice boiled in fish sauce — or fried and grilled fish eaten with dips such as hummus and tabbouleh or fattoush salads.
The loss of fish damaged a deep association with home, but now the possibility of renewed Lebanese fishing on the country's southern coast is helping fuel hope for a brighter future.
On Friday, a few boats went out close to the shore as fishers in the port worked on the nets of small boats painted white, blue or red.
Hussein Sukmani, 55, said Friday that he was considering going to sea in coming days but was waiting to see how things unfold.
He hasn't dared set sail since the Israel-Hezbollah war dramatically intensified on Sept. 23. “They were days of fear and horror,” he said. "They were the most difficult days of our lives.”
A week ago, a drone strike killed two young fishers in the city as they prepared their nets on the coast, and some fishermen said Friday that the Lebanese army told them that if they headed out it would be at their own risk .
Among those who sailed near the coast on Friday was Walid Darwish, who returned to the port with two plastic boxes filled with mullet.
“Today is the first time that we sail,” Darwish said, adding that fishers had missed the prime season in October and November.
“We lost it,” he said.
The Israeli army barred any boats from an area 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the border in October and has not said whether the warning is still in effect.
Sukmani said that most of the 700 fishers who work on the 270 boats at the port have not sailed out of concern since then.
The area around the port is a predominantly Christian neighborhood that has been spared much of the airstrikes on other parts of Tyre that leveled buildings in this city.
In peaceful times, the port is a major tourist attraction, beloved by Lebanese and foreigners who come for the views, the restaurants and the beaches.
On Friday, Mohammed Hammoud walked along the coast of Tyre carrying his fishing rod.
“It is enough that someone is able to stand in this beautiful area,” he said, pointing to the white sands. “Fishing is everything for me,” added Hammoud, who went to fish several times in the area north of the city of Sidon that was not part of the siege.
In the old market of Tyre, Gilbert Spiridon watched from inside his shop as people came to buy freshly brought fish. Before the war, it took hours to sell all his fish to people from around Lebanon.
“All I wish is that the war has ended and we are back on track to the old good days,” he said.