By: Ginaba Lino
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday chaired a Council of Ministers meeting that approved South Sudan’s hosting of the Nile Basin Day celebrations scheduled for February in Juba, marking a significant milestone in the country’s regional engagement.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, David Yau Yau, said the Cabinet endorsed the event and approved its budget. He noted that the celebrations are expected to draw delegates from all 11 member states of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI).
Yau Yau explained that the decision followed the presentation of a memorandum by the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, James Mawich, which outlined South Sudan’s obligations and commitments under the Nile Basin Initiative, as well as other regional and international organizations.
After deliberations, the Cabinet directed the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Finance and Planning to coordinate efforts to settle arrears owed to regional and international bodies.
The Nile Basin Day celebrations will bring together member countries to promote cooperation, sustainable water resource management, and the equitable sharing of benefits among Nile Basin states. The Nile Basin Initiative was established on 22 February 1999 to foster regional collaboration among countries that share the Nile River.
Officials say hosting the event presents South Sudan with an important opportunity to reaffirm its role within the regional bloc while strengthening diplomatic relations and development partnerships across the Nile Basin region.