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

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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.

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GoSS Water Resources Min.: Cooperation Despite "Allergy"
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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.

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Egypt: Technical Cooperation Good, Jonglei Even Better
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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.

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2006 Nile River MOU: Goal of Full Water Utilization
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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

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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.


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-- 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)

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Comment
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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