Cairo: Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam have reiterated that safeguarding Egypt's water security is a top national priority, affirming the country's commitment to cooperation and mutual benefit with all Nile Basin states.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the two ministers emphasized that protecting Egypt's water interests does not conflict with the developmental aspirations of its neighbors, provided that all parties adhere to the international law governing transboundary rivers. The ministers also reiterated Egypt's categorical rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin that violate these principles, vowing to monitor developments closely and take all measures permitted under international law to protect the vital resources of the Egyptian people.
The remarks came during a joint meeting to coordinate positions on regional and international water issues, as part of ongoing collaboration between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Water Resources and Irrigation. Discussions between the two ministers focused on strengthening historic ties with fellow Nile Basin countries, particularly in the southern basin, and advancing cooperation through various frameworks, including the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development and the Egyptian Nile Basin Development Initiative.
The ministers reviewed progress on joint visits and high-level contacts with their counterparts in Nile Basin capitals, most recently a trip to Uganda. They also highlighted Egypt's newly launched $100 million financing mechanism to support developmental and infrastructure projects-including dams-in southern Nile Basin states. Egypt's development efforts in the region include the construction of solar-powered water pumping stations, including 28 stations in South Sudan, 180 wells in Kenya, 12 stations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 10 wells in Sudan, 75 wells in Uganda, and 60 wells in Tanzania. Egypt has also built two river berths and four groundwater wells in South Sudan, 28 ground tanks in Uganda, and established rainfall prediction centers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In addition, Egypt has implemented training programs for more than 1,650 participants from 52 African countries, with the total cost of completed projects amounting to $100 million. The meeting also addressed the latest developments within the Nile Basin Initiative's consultation process aimed at restoring consensus and inclusiveness among member states. The ministers agreed to continue close coordination and to press ahead with upcoming projects under the new financing mechanism, including the planned Mabankana Hydropower Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo.