South Sudan Cabinet resolves to join the Nile Basin Initiative

The South Sudan Council of Ministers on Friday unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the country’s bid to join the Nile Basin Initiative.

The Minister of Information, Michael Makuei Lueth, told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the Council had passed a resolution allowing the country to become the ninth member of the NBI.

The Minister said this would decision enable South Sudan to engage with other states on Nile Water issues on an equal footing.

He said it was important to join the NBI because it would help the country benefit from assistance that is given to support projects aimed at improving lives and the living standard of people dependent upon water from the Nile.
"It will also make the country participates in discussions and resolutions of issues related to water management. But this can only happen if you are a member of the Initiative”.

The other members of the Nile Basin Initiative are: Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda. South Sudan is also expected to sing the NBI Cooperative Framework Agreement  which has so far been signed by six members of the NBI - Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda.

Source: mfa.gov.et