Southern Sudan: Update on Nile River Issues

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 002909 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES, AF/RSA, AF/SPG, AND NEA/ELA ADDIS ALSO FOR REO BRODEY SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SENV PGOV ECIN EWWT EG SU SUBJECT: Southern Sudan: Update on Nile River Issues Ref: State 190874 KHARTOUM 00002909 001.4 OF 003 ¶1. Summary: Southern Sudan, having signed an MOU with Egypt in August 2006 on technical cooperation on water issues, remains interested in capacity building and in developing the Nile River as a transport corridor. Although the Jonglei Canal Project remains sensitive politically and ecologically, cooperation with Egypt remains extensive. The Government of Southern Sudan is interested in conference and workshops on the Nile, and seeks a seat at the table co-equal to that of the Government of National Unity in Khartoum. End Summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GoSS Water Resources Min.: Cooperation Despite "Allergy" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. On December 18, Acting Consul General Whitaker met with Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Joseph Duer Jakok, who noted that he had signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Egypt on technical cooperation with respect to Nile River waters. Admitting that many were "allergic" to discussion of the Jonglei Canal Project, Jakok said the MOU, did not commit the GoSS to reviving the project, but allowed the exploration of water-related issues with Egypt. Technical cooperation with Egypt is ongoing, Jakok explained, with six engineers from Southern Sudan participating in training in Egypt at present. Egypt maintains hydrologists in Juba, Malakal, and Kosti, and has many water flow gauges along the White Nile. ¶3. Jakok emphasized the importance of two actions to improve the economic utility of the Nile River to the South: dredging silted areas and reducing water hyacinth infestation. Both would be valuable in expanding transportation networks for both people and goods. The GoSS is interested in participating in conferences and workshops regarding the Nile, he added, or in hosting such an event, and believes that both the North and the South should be invited to future events. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Egypt: Technical Cooperation Good, Jonglei Even Better - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. The same day, Acting CG also met with Ambassador Abdelghaffar Eldib, Consul General of Egypt in Juba, who said that the MOU involved updating previous Nile River studies, training arrangements, and the need to exchange experiences. The Jonglei Canal, he said, is 75 percent completed, and would benefit both Sudan and Egypt if it were completed. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2006 Nile River MOU: Goal of Full Water Utilization - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. The Memorandum of Understanding is as follows: (Begin text) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) ON TECHNICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Government of Southern Sudan PREAMBLE The brotherhood between Egypt and the Sudan is characterized by a historic relations and strong ties. Cooperation between the two countries in the field of water resources management has extended over the past centuries to include all aspects of water conservation, hydropower development; control of wild aquatic weeds such as water hyacinth, maintenance of waterways for navigation, hydro-meteorological networks, for weather and water occurrence records; and the management of the water structures along the Nile and its tributaries. As the River Nile needs projects for its sustainable and optimum utilization the two countries work towards management of its basin for increasing its yield for the full utilization of its waters, the two countries signed the 1959 agreement, which came into force through the establishment of the Permanent Joint Technical, Commission for the Nile Waters (PJTC). The main purposes for establishing the PJTC were the drawing of the basic outlines of projects for the conservation and increase of the Nile yield, and KHARTOUM 00002909 002.5 OF 003 supervision of the studies necessary for finalizing of these projects before presenting them to the Governments of the two Republics for approval. Many water conservation project studies have been conducted by the PJTC and they form an excellent basis for water resources management and irrigation development in the two countries; and Southern Sudan could use them as basis for its water resources based development. TEXT Pursuant to the brotherhood relationship, friendship and cooperation that exists between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Government of Southern Sudan, and desirous to working together in harnessing, developing, managing the water resources of the River Nile and implementing joint projects to reduce poverty and the negative impact of civil war in Southern Sudan, H.E. Mr. JOSEPH DUER JAKOK, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Government of Southern Sudan visited Egypt during the month of August, 2006. And after meetings with H.E. Dr. MAHMOUD ABU-ZEID, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the presence of the delegations from the two sides and with some organized visits to the major irrigation and drainage projects research and training facilities in Egypt. Also, similar meetings took place between the Southern Sudan Delegation and H.E. Dr. HASSAN YOUNIS, the Minister of Electricity and Power of the Arab Republic of Egypt and his team to discuss the cooperation opportunities in the area of hydropower generation. Concluding these important meetings and visits, the two sides agreed to cooperate and provide technical assistance and exchange of experiences, in the following fields: 1) Water resources assessment -- Updating Master Plan of water resources development projects. -- Flood and drought mitigation and forecasting. -- Hydrological data collection. -- Review studies of Jonglei Canal Project. 2) Data collection and dissemination -- Study for using telemetry system or equivalent. -- Rehabilitation of the key hydro-meteorological measuring stations network in Southern Sudan. 3) Groundwater: -- Technical assistance in the field of groundwater development and management for drinking water and other uses. 4) Irrigation: -- Rain-fed agriculture improvement with supplementary irrigation. -- Joint venture pilot projects to develop new irrigated agricultural schemes in Southern Sudan. 5) Waterweeds Control and Navigation: -- Surveying and exploring the water ways infested with water hyacinth and other wild vegetation. -- Carrying out clearance operations of aquatic weeds to enhance navigation. 6) Hydropower Development: -- Exploring the feasible opportunities for hydropower development. -- Exchange expertise in planning and implementing hydropower projects. 7) Training and exchange of visits: -- Training of trainers in area of integrated water resources management. -- Training of water specialists in rural areas. -- Attending courses on shared water resources toward a diploma at Cairo University. -- Study tours for different levels of water resource managers of both governments to exchange experiences. KHARTOUM 00002909 003 OF 003 -- Exchange of experiences between the two governments in the fields of shared water resources through exchange of trips and technical visits. -- Participation in the regional and international water resources management for meetings, conferences, and workshops. -- The two parties also agreed that the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Arab Republic of Egypt would send a team of experts to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Government of Southern Sudan to work out the details of implementation of this MOU after its approval by the governments of the two parties and identify obligations of each party. The two parties also agreed to establish a small joint coordination team to follow up the implementation of the MOU. -- This MOU may be reviewed by the two Parties when the need for such review arises. -- This MOU will become effective upon approval of the governments of the two Parties. -- Signed in Cairo, this eighth day of August 2006; in two original copies in the English language. Joseph Duer Jakok Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Government of Southern Sudan DR. MAHMOUD ABU-ZEID Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Arab Republic of Egypt (End text) - - - - Comment - - - - ¶6. The potential revival of the Jonglei Canal Project has captured attention in Sudan, as the South reviews its natural resource base and plans long-term economic development. The impact of following through, however, raises questions about loss of habitat and potential impact on regional climatic conditions. End comment. HUME