Nile Basin countries on Sunday renewed calls for inclusive regional cooperation as they marked Nile Day, emphasizing collective leadership, climate action, and equitable management of shared water resources across the basin.
Speaking during the 20th Regional Commemoration of Nile Day in Juba, Vice President Josephine Lagu Yanga urged Nile Basin states to strengthen collaboration to address shared challenges and promote inclusive development for communities that depend on the river.
“The Nile binds our nations together. Only through solidarity, trust, and strengthened cooperation can we unlock its full potential for sustainable and inclusive development,” Lagu said,
She reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to regional unity, climate resilience, and responsible stewardship of shared water resources.
The high-level event was organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation under the framework of the Nile Basin Initiative.
It brought together representatives from riparian states, development partners, civil society organizations, and national stakeholders to commemorate two decades of regional cooperation on the sustainable management and shared benefits of the Nile Basin.
Participants highlighted achievements made through joint programs while underscoring the need to deepen partnerships that advance water security, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development along the Nile.
The celebrations came a day after South Sudan officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Nile Equatorial Lakes during a high-level meeting held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Juba.
James Mawich Makuach, Minister of Water and Irrigation, who assumed Chairperson of the Nile Equatorial Lakes Council of Ministers (NELSAP-CU) thanked member states for the confidence placed in South Sudan’s leadership, pledging to promote unity, dialogue, and shared prosperity among NELSAP member countries.
He said the chairmanship reflects growing regional trust in South Sudan’s role in strengthening cooperation and advancing sustainable water governance.
Also addressing the gathering, Habtamu Itefa, Minister of Water and Energy of the Ethiopia, emphasized that the Nile Basin’s future depends on cooperation rooted in mutual benefit and inclusivity.
“The river must be a source of unity, not division. Through dialogue, joint investment, and inclusive approaches, Nile Basin states can transform shared challenges into shared opportunities,” Itefa said.
Officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation reiterated South Sudan’s commitment to continued engagement with regional partners to ensure equitable and sustainable utilization of Nile waters.
The Nile Day commemoration concluded with renewed calls for strengthened collective leadership and cooperation among riparian states to safeguard the river and improve livelihoods for millions of people across the basin.
