Egypt fully supports Sudan security, stability: El-Sisi to Sudanese PM - Foreign Affairs
President El-Sisi made his remarks during a meeting on Thursday with Sudanese Transitional Prime Minister Kamil Idris.
He also emphasized Egypt's consistent stance on supporting Sudan's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, according to a statement by Egypt's presidential spokesman.
Both leaders discussed efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis and achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people for peace and stability.
They also explored ways of cooperation between their countries in the field of reconstruction in Sudan.
Moreover, the meeting highlighted the developments in the strategic relations between both nations, discussing ways to enhance them in various fields to restore Sudan's stability and advance mutual development and prosperity.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional developments and stressed the importance of continued coordination and consultation between the two countries on all issues of mutual interest, the statement added.
According to a separate cabinet statement, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly welcomed Prime Minister Idris upon his arrival at Cairo International Airport on Thursday, marking the beginning of his official visit to Egypt.
The two prime ministers are expected to lead an expanded round of talks to address key bilateral issues and explore avenues for strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in war after clashes erupted between the Sudanese national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Although the army regained control of Khartoum in May, the country continues to suffer under severe humanitarian conditions, with widespread hunger afflicting the majority of the population in Africa's third-largest nation.
The war, now entering its third year, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and devastated Sudan's healthcare system.
The United Nations described the situation in Sudan as "the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis," with nearly 25 million Sudanese suffering dire food insecurity and over 10 million internally displaced across the country.
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UPDATED: Egypt will never allow Nile water to be touched: El-Sisi to Uganda president - Foreign Affairs
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Tuesday that Egypt will never allow its share of Nile water, which sustains 105 million Egyptians and about 10 million guests, to be touched. Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, El-Sisi underlined Egypt's complete rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, which Cairo has sought to keep as a source of cooperation, not conflict. 'Anyone who imagines that Egypt will turn a blind eye to an existential threat to its water security is mistaken… We will continue to monitor the situation and take all measures provided for under international law to safeguard our people's existential resources,' El-Sisi warned. El-Sisi's remarks were referring to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Cairo fears will drastically reduce its share of Nile waters. Egypt has previously described the Ethiopian measures on the GERD as a clear violation of international law, particularly the rules related to the fair and equitable use of international waterways and the prohibition of causing harm to neighbouring countries. A decade of negotiations between the downstream nations and Ethiopia has failed to produce an agreement balancing water security for downstream nations with Ethiopia's development targets. In December 2023, Cairo announced the end of the GERD negotiation track due to Ethiopia's persistent rejection of any proposed technical or legal solutions. In July, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources Hani Sewilam expressed the country's firm rejection of Ethiopia's repeated unilateral measures after Addis Ababa announced the completion of its multi-billion-dollar mega-dam, with plans for official inauguration in September. Between 2020 and 2024, Ethiopia unilaterally completed the dam's five-stage filling and began operating two turbines, without an agreement with its downstream nations, Egypt and Sudan. Nile Basin countries' development During the press conference, El-Sisi said that 'We agreed that water is very important, and that development is also important. Our position has been clear from the start — we have never rejected the development of our partners and brothers in the Nile Basin countries. We have no problem with that, as long as such development does not affect the amount or share of water reaching Egypt.' Quoting Museveni, El-Sisi said: 'President Museveni pointed out that the water falling on the basin — whether the Blue Nile or White Nile — amounts to 1,600 billion cubic metres annually. This water is divided between forests and swamps, agricultural use, evaporation, groundwater recharge, and only a small portion — about 85 billion cubic meters, roughly 4 percent of the total — reaches the White and Blue Nile.' 'When we demand that this amount reach Egypt and Sudan for livelihood — as we have no other source — does that mean we are rejecting development in the basin countries or their use of water for agriculture or electricity production? Of course not,' El-Sisi asserted. 'We have never talked about a fair distribution of all 1,600 billion cubic metres; we are talking only about the remaining, which doesn't exceed 4–5 percent… We do not say 'us and them' — we are all together, living, growing, and cooperating for the prosperity and stability of our countries.' El-Sisi recalled Museveni telling him that in Uganda, Egypt means "the garden." "This garden has no other water source than the Nile—we have no rain," he said. 'No one can imagine that Egypt would abandon it. Giving up any part of it would mean giving up our life—and that will never happen." Egypt's annual water needs exceed 90 billion cubic metres, while its Nile share stands at just 55.5 billion. Per capita water availability is under 500 cubic meters per year—well below the United Nations' (UN) water poverty threshold of 1,000, according to recent remarks by Egypt's foreign minister. El-Sisi expressed hope that the seven-nation committee led by Uganda would reach a consensus to ensure the benefit of all basin countries. This committee is part of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and engages with countries that have not yet ratified the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), also known as the "Entebbe Agreement.' 'Those who have rain will never feel what it is like for those who do not. The Egyptian people are extremely cautious and concerned about water, and I am responsible, along with my brothers and wise leaders like President Museveni, to find a solution that never harms the lives of Egyptians.' He warned that Egypt faces 'significant pressures' over this issue. Water may be part of a campaign to achieve other objectives, El-Sisi said, adding that 'we are fully aware of this.' 'We have always been against interfering in others' affairs, against conspiring against others, and against destruction. We are for building, cooperation, and development, as our African countries have suffered enough from years of conflict and fighting.' 'Once again, I reassure Egyptians that we will never allow the waters that sustain 105 million Egyptians and about 10 million guests to be touched. We do not call them refugees,' El-Sisi concluded. Safeguarding Nile Basin countries During the presser, President El-Sisi said he agreed with President Museveni that the Nile Basin countries must work together to preserve and develop this vital resource, achieve mutual benefit, and avoid harming any country per the rules of international law. He stated that, according to President Museveni, 'without preserving the Nile Basin environment, we will find nothing to share.' "I assured President Museveni of our full support for development efforts in Uganda and other South Nile Basin countries and our readiness to finance the Angololo Dam project between Uganda and Kenya through Egypt's investment in the Nile Basin infrastructure projects, with an initial funding of $100 million," President El-Sisi continued. The president also expressed his pleasure upon the signing of a new memorandum of understanding in the field of integrated water resources management, building on more than 20 years of cooperation between the two countries to preserve the Nile River environment and develop its resources. The total value of the agreement is $6 million over five years. "This affirms our commitment to supporting development in Uganda and other brotherly Nile Basin countries,' he stressed. El-Sisi also expressed Egypt's confidence in the constructive role Uganda is playing in leading the consultative process within the Nile Basin Initiative to restore inclusivity and consensus among basin countries to achieve mutual benefit. Egypt-Uganda cooperation The two presidents held a closed meeting on Tuesday, followed by an expanded session of talks attended by delegations from both countries. During the discussions, both sides explored ways to strengthen the historic bilateral relations between Egypt and Uganda, particularly in political, commercial, and investment fields, to serve the shared interests of the two brotherly peoples. The two presidents witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding for technical cooperation in water resources management, agricultural and food cooperation, investment, mutual visa exemptions for holders of official passports, and diplomatic cooperation to support the establishment of an Ugandan diplomatic institute. "The Egyptian-Ugandan bilateral relations have recently witnessed remarkable development, reflecting the close ties and interests between the two countries," President El-Sisi said. Moreover, El-Sisi said they discussed ways to activate economic cooperation and increase trade volumes between the two countries. 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Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt will never allow Nile water to be touched: El-Sisi to Uganda president - Foreign Affairs
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Tuesday that Egypt will never allow its share of Nile water, which sustains 105 million Egyptians and about 10 million guests, to be touched. Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, El-Sisi underlined Egypt's complete rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, which Cairo has sought to keep as a source of cooperation, not conflict. 'Anyone who imagines that Egypt will turn a blind eye to an existential threat to its water security is mistaken… We will continue to monitor the situation and take all measures provided for under international law to safeguard our people's existential resources,' El-Sisi warned. El-Sisi's remarks were referring to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Cairo fears will drastically reduce its share of Nile waters. Egypt has previously described the Ethiopian measures on the GERD as a clear violation of international law, particularly the rules related to the fair and equitable use of international waterways and the prohibition of causing harm to neighbouring countries. A decade of negotiations between the downstream nations and Ethiopia has failed to produce an agreement balancing water security for downstream nations with Ethiopia's development targets. In December 2023, Cairo announced the end of the GERD negotiation track due to Ethiopia's persistent rejection of any proposed technical or legal solutions. In July, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources Hani Sewilam expressed the country's firm rejection of Ethiopia's repeated unilateral measures after Addis Ababa announced the completion of its multi-billion-dollar mega-dam, with plans for official inauguration in September. 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This water is divided between forests and swamps, agricultural use, evaporation, groundwater recharge, and only a small portion — about 85 billion cubic meters, roughly 4 percent of the total — reaches the White and Blue Nile.' 'When we demand that this amount reach Egypt and Sudan for livelihood — as we have no other source — does that mean we are rejecting development in the basin countries or their use of water for agriculture or electricity production? Of course not,' El-Sisi asserted. 'We have never talked about a fair distribution of all 1,600 billion cubic metres; we are talking only about the remaining, which doesn't exceed 4–5 percent… We do not say 'us and them' — we are all together, living, growing, and cooperating for the prosperity and stability of our countries.' El-Sisi recalled Museveni telling him that in Uganda, Egypt means "the garden." "This garden has no other water source than the Nile—we have no rain," he said. 'No one can imagine that Egypt would abandon it. 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The Egyptian people are extremely cautious and concerned about water, and I am responsible, along with my brothers and wise leaders like President Museveni, to find a solution that never harms the lives of Egyptians.' He warned that Egypt faces 'significant pressures' over this issue. Water may be part of a campaign to achieve other objectives, El-Sisi said, adding that 'we are fully aware of this.' 'We have always been against interfering in others' affairs, against conspiring against others, and against destruction. We are for building, cooperation, and development, as our African countries have suffered enough from years of conflict and fighting.' 'Once again, I reassure Egyptians that we will never allow the waters that sustain 105 million Egyptians and about 10 million guests to be touched. We do not call them refugees,' El-Sisi concluded. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
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President Sisi affirms Egypt's readiness to contribute to financing the Angololo Dam
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