Egypt organizes training program for South Sudanese cadres

CAIRO – 21 October 2018: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a protocol training program for 11 South Sudanese cadres working at the office of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Egyptian Ambassador to South Sudan Ahmed Bahaa el-Din said that a press conference was held at Juba International Airport’s presidential hall to bid farewell to South Sudan cadres.

During the press conference, Bahaa el-Din stressed Egypt’s keenness to enhance the capabilities of South Sudan cadres in all fields as around 200 South Sudanese cadres were trained in 2017 and 2018 in medicine, engineering, agriculture, business, and electricity.

He remarked that the training programs come as part of Egypt’s appreciation for the historical bonds between the two countries.

South Sudan has been suffering a civil war for five years; tens of thousands were killed, while millions were displaced as the country plunged into famine.

Cairo hosted a three-day meeting with the South Sudan People's Liberation Movement on November 13, 2017 at the headquarters of the Egyptian Intelligence Service as it witnessed the signing of a political agreement between South Sudan's rivals.

The agreement was signed under the auspices of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Signing the agreement is deemed a crucial step towards a permanent cease-fire in South Sudan before the renewed peace talks scheduled to take place in early February in Ethiopia.

Sixteen people, including three children, have been killed less than a month after South Sudan's cease-fire started, reported monitors.

Government and rebel forces have been fighting since December 2013 due to infighting among rows of the popular movement.

Both sides agreed that Egypt's General Intelligence will make the necessary coordination to carry out what was agreed upon during the meeting.

In September 2018, President Sisi told his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir during a meeting held on the sidelines of the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) that Egypt supports all efforts to finalize a peaceful political settlement in Juba.

Sisi said in the meeting that he backs a national dialogue in South Sudan to resolve the root causes and achieve national reconciliation.