August 17, 2022 (JUBA) – Ethiopia has accepted South Sudan’s proposal to mediate its border dispute with neighbouring Sudan, a top government official has disclosed.

South Sudan’s security affairs advisor, Tut Gatluak Manime said he visited Ethiopia to solicit views on its relations with Sudan and the need to strengthen them for the benefit of both nations and the region.

“We have been warmly received, hospitably cared for, and had the opportunity to give the message of his excellency to relevant leadership and authorities in this beautiful and hospitable country in Africa. Ethiopia is a great country with great people. They love people from other countries and their relationships with Sudan and South Sudan are quite unique”, he told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

Manime revealed that Ethiopia accepted South Sudan’s proposal to mediate its border row with Sudan.

“The trust, love, and respect for Sudan among Ethiopian people and leaders is visible,  it is huge and palpable in the talks. Most senior officials continue to appreciate the treatment they received when they were in Sudan. This is why it was easy for them to accept the proposal of his excellency the president of the republic of south Sudan, Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit to play a role in the mediation to end the cross-border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan,” he explained.

Manime said his team visited the construction site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to familiarise themselves with its progress and to how the project will benefit other countries in the region.

“Actually, our mission was not related to the construction of the dam but it became the opportunity to visit the site to familiarize ourselves with it and to see how it would benefit other countries in the region. Having seen the site ourselves, it gave us a glimpse of the objective of the dam because what we saw was that the project is big which is what has caused the fear of other countries in the region”, he said.

The presidential aide further explained that the project could benefit countries in the region’s supply of electricity and harvesting water for irrigation.

“You know IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] was established to fast-track regional integration and this can be realized through connectivity. For example, electricity can be purchased and used by South Sudan, especially in areas like Nasir, Maiwut, Akobo, Pachol,a and even in big towns like Malakal.  But this of course would need the leaders in the region to sit down and talk and this is where some countries in the region will play an important role”, he stressed.

Manine said Ethiopian authorities told them they started selling electricity to Djibouti and are ready to sell it to countries like Sudan,  Kenya, and South Sudan if the leadership in these countries ask for it.

He further said cooperation and negotiation of the countries in the region would enhance the mutual benefit of the people in the region.

In recent years, tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia have run high in because of a spillover of the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region and Ethiopia’s construction of a giant hydropower dam on the Blue Nile.

According to aid agencies, tens of thousands of refugees have fled into eastern Sudan and there have been military skirmishes in an area of contested farmland along the Sudan and Ethiopian border.