Kenyan President and South Sudan’s Incumbent Hold Bilateral Talks To Boost Trade
Kenyan president, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta greets South Sudan’s incumbent, Salva Kiir Mayardit(Photo credit: SSNN)
July 1st, 2019(SSNN) — Speaking at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday after the meeting, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that his Government had decided to set aside 10 acres of land located at the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha Industrial Complex.
“To further ease the movement of goods consigned to South Sudan, the Kenyan Government has set aside 10 acres of land at the Inland Container Depot in Naivasha Industrial Park, for use as a dry port by the Government of South Sudan,” said President Kenyatta.
President Uhuru Kenyatta further revealed that Kenya and South Sudan are rapidly pursuing a flagship infrastructure project known as LAPSSET projects, that includes the construction of Trans-national Highways, Oil pipelines and the port of Lamu.
“The first berth (of the Lamu Port) will be ready this August while Berths 2 and 3 are expected to be completed within the year 2020. I will invite Your Excellency, with other regional leaders, to inspect the Lamu Project in due course,” said President Kenyatta.
In order to enhance mutual cooperation between the two countries, President Uhuru Kenyatta stressed the need to expedite the implementation of the LAPSET project.
“In pursuit of our shared vision to deepen further our cooperation, it is important we fast-track the implementation of the LAPSSET Corridor Highway, that is, from Lamu-Garissa-Isiolo-Lokichar-Lodwar-Nadapal-Kapoeta-Torit-Juba,” said the President.
The heads of State agreed to find an amicable solution to border issues that have always caused conflict between neighboring communities.
“The framework will provide the necessary guidelines for engagement on boundary matters, which, in the spirit of brotherhood and in recognition of the deep friendship between our States, will always be amicable,” said President Kenyatta.
Lastly, President Uhuru Kenyatta said he would use diplomatic influence to make regional leaders receptive to the ongoing peace process.
On his part, President Kiir expressed his sincere gratitude to the Kenyan government for showing its solidarity and support for South Sudan in its quest for peace.
“We are delighted that you have assured us that Kenya will exert more pressure for the implementation of the peace ,” said South Sudan’s President Kiir,
Under the leadership of President Salva Kiir South Sudan is increasingly losing land across the border. At its independent in 2011, South Sudan only had known border issue with Sudan around Abyei and Heglig, whose disputtes are recognized by the international community; however, between 2012 to 2019, South Sudan begin to have more border disputes with Sudan, then Uganda and now Kenya. It is most likely that South Sudan may have dispute with the neighboring Ethiopia in the nearest future.
Due to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, president Salva Kiir values bilitarel relationships with neighboring countries more than the ongoing border disputes to ensure that the IGAD countries do not support the numerous rebels groups, wondering in the neighboring countries.
The border disputes between Kenya and South Sudan has raised numerous concerns in the recent past as Kenyan army continued to encroach into South Sudan territory at an area now known as the “Ilemmi Triangle”.
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