Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilam, has reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to supporting sustainable development in South Sudan following the inauguration of the Sumba groundwater station at the University of Juba, funded by an Egyptian grant.
The minister received a progress report from Aref Gharib, Head of the Nile Water Affairs Sector, on the project’s launch.
The initiative forms part of Egypt’s broader cooperation programme with Nile Basin countries, aligned with directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to strengthen regional partnerships and improve living standards.
The station was officially opened by South Sudan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, James Mawij Makwaj, alongside Egypt’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Hazem Mamdouh, the Head of the Egyptian Irrigation Mission, Engineer Shaaban Abu El-Fath, and senior officials from both nations.
Minister Sweilam described the project as a reflection of the deep-rooted historical and fraternal ties between Egypt and South Sudan, stressing that Cairo remains committed to providing technical and development assistance to support sustainable growth and enhance essential public services.
He noted that the station will supply safe drinking water to students and staff at the University of Juba, as well as nearby communities, thereby improving public health, local environmental conditions, and the educational environment.
The minister also highlighted the steady expansion of Egyptian–South Sudanese cooperation in water resources.
Joint projects now cover drinking water, water resource management, waterway rehabilitation, flood forecasting, and early warning systems, alongside training and capacity-building initiatives.
Sweilam said Egypt had completed 28 solar-powered groundwater drinking stations across South Sudan, with each station serving more than 3,000 families.
Other projects include dredging works on the Bahr el Ghazal River, construction of rainwater harvesting dams, installation of hydrological monitoring stations and the establishment of a forecasting centre at South Sudan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
Minister Sweilem affirmed that all Egyptian-funded projects incorporate training programmes for local technical personnel to ensure their long-term sustainability, reiterating Egypt’s commitment to expanding co-operation and sharing expertise in support of development and improved quality of life in South Sudan.
