President accuses Ethiopia of unilateral actions threatening Egypt ,Sudan
President affirms Egypt’s firm commitment to cooperation on shared water resources and sustainable management
At Cairo Water Week, he warns against unilateral measures and calls for global solidarity to safeguard peace and stability
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said on Sunday that water scarcity is a global challenge, not merely a local or regional issue, and called for stronger international cooperation and innovative, sustainable solutions.In a recorded address at the opening of the 8th Cairo Water Week, Sisi also said water is a matter of existence for Egypt, where over 98% of the population depends on a single external source — the Nile River.
“The world faces increasing water-related challenges, including rising demand, shrinking resources, poor water management, and the severe impact of climate change,” he further said. “There is an urgent need to enhance cross-border cooperation in managing shared water resources,” he told the audience.Held under the theme “Innovative Solutions for Climate Change Resilience and Water Sustainability,” the event brings together ministers, policymakers, international experts, private sector representatives, and civil society.Sisi welcomed the attendees to “the land of the Nile,” describing the annual forum as a global platform for dialogue and cooperation on a critical issue — water security.
“Cairo Water Week has become a beacon of thought and a hub for unifying efforts to protect this vital resource, the essence of life and existence,” he added.
Sisi said that water security is a global crisis with severe implications for Africa and the Arab world, and warned against unilateral actions on shared rivers that undermine regional stability.In his recorded address to the event, Sisi noted that Africa is the world’s second driest continent, with over 300 million people lacking access to clean drinking water, while the Arab region suffers from chronic water scarcity and depends largely on transboundary resources.
He reiterated that water is a matter of survival for Egypt, where over 98% of its population relies on the Nile River, and average annual rainfall is only 1.3 billion cubic meters. Per capita water availability has dropped to 500 cubic meters per year — half the global water poverty line, according to him.
To tackle these challenges, Sisi said Egypt has launched major water-saving projects, including three of the world’s largest agricultural wastewater reuse plants — Bahr Al-Baqar, Al-Mahsama, and New Delta — as well as canal rehabilitation, modern irrigation systems, and coastal protection programs. He stressed that technology and innovation are now central to water management efforts.Sisi warned that such national initiatives will not succeed without effective international cooperation to guarantee access to clean water as a basic human right.
He highlighted Egypt’s efforts to internationalize water issues, including its initiative at the 2022 UN Climate Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, launched in cooperation with UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization to support developing countries in climate and water resilience.
Sisi also pointed to Egypt’s support for African states, especially Nile Basin countries, through projects like solar-powered wells, rainwater harvesting systems, early warning centers, and capacity-building programs via the African Water and Climate Adaptation Training Center.Criticizing Ethiopia’s management of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Sisi said Egypt has spent 14 years in good-faith negotiations to reach a legally binding agreement that balances the interests of all Nile Basin states. He accused Addis Ababa of showing “unjustified intransigence” and pursuing unilateral actions that threaten Egypt and Sudan.
He added that Ethiopia’s uncoordinated release of dam waters in recent days had caused harm to downstream countries, validating Cairo’s longstanding calls for a legally binding operational framework. “The Nile is a shared resource, not the exclusive property of any one state,” he said.Sisi stressed Egypt’s commitment to diplomacy and international law but warned it would not remain passive in the face of “irresponsible behavior.”He urged the international community, particularly African institutions, to ensure no country can jeopardize others’ water security unilaterally.He concluded by calling for serious dialogue and concrete action during Cairo Water Week, to transform ideas into sustainable solutions and turn water from a source of conflict into a platform for cooperation.
