Cairo:Egypt and Senegal have engaged in discussions to fortify their cooperation on African water issues, with a focus on coordinating preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, as announced by Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the discussions involved Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, who also leads the African Water Facility, and Senegalese Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, the chair of the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW).

The meeting took place prior to the ninth Cairo Water Week, scheduled from October 25 to 29, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. Minister Sewilam praised the collaboration between Egypt and Senegal, highlighting Senegal's leadership in AMCOW as instrumental in achieving consensus on the Africa Water Vision 2063. He emphasized the importance of building on this cooperation to enhance joint African efforts on water issues, ensuring that member states' consultations reflect the continent's priorities.

The ministers explored strategies to support the Africa Water Vision 2063's implementation, focusing on continued coordination to bolster water security and promote sustainable development across Africa. Sewilam highlighted the necessity of maintaining the council's specialized technical role and strengthening ties with the African Union Commission and other regional institutions to improve water program implementation and leverage existing expertise.

The dialogue also included preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, which Senegal will co-host. Both ministers stressed the significance of developing a unified African stance that mirrors the continent's priorities and aligns the conference's outcomes with the Africa Water Vision 2063. Additionally, they discussed the importance of following up on the conference outcomes and utilizing discussions at the Cairo Water Week to enhance coordination among African nations.