Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed to his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Cairo's "full and unlimited support for the efforts exerted by Sudan's government to achieve peace and stability nationwide, [given what it represents of] an extension of the Egyptian national security."

El-Sisi, who arrived earlier today in Juba, held talks with Kiir on issues of mutual concern and means to enhance bilateral ties, especially on the economic and development levels.

During the meeting, El-Sisi stressed the importance of possessing the will by all South Sudanese's parties to render the recently-signed peace deal successful.

Last month, Sudan's government and rebel leaders signed a landmark peace deal in the capital Juba aimed at ending the decades-long war in which hundreds of thousands died. The signing ceremony was attended by Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

The Egyptian president praised the efforts exerted by South Sudan's president in mediating between the Sudanese government and rebel factions, which led to signing the Juba deal, said the presidential spokesman in a statement released following the meeting.

President El-Sisi voiced Egypt's keenness to convey the Egyptian expertise and provide the technical and capacity building programmes for cadres to South Sudan in various sectors, as well as reinforcing development, economic, trade ties between both countries, and cooperating in the fields of agriculture, irrigation, infrastructure, and energy.

Kiir briefed El-Sisi on the latest developments in the Juba peace agreement, praising the Egyptian moves in various international and regional forums to explain the nature of the challenges facing South Sudan.

He said cooperation prospects between Egypt and South Sudan are broad, particularly at the economic level, expressing his hope to increase the activity of the Egyptian private sector in his country.

GERD and Nile Basin’s issues

The two presidents agreed on the importance of reaching a legal and balanced agreement concerning the rules of filling and operating the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has been of concern to Cairo and Khartoum.

They urged strengthening cooperation between Nile Basin countries to achieve their people's common interests.

The discussions also dealt with the latest development of other regional issues, including those of the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa as the presidents agreed on the significance of strengthening the African capabilities to face the challenges facing the continent.