President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has called for boosting international co-operation on water security, upholding international law and ensuring the equitable use of shared water resources.
Inaugurating the 9th edition of the Cairo Water Week (CWW) under the theme, “Water as a Catalyst for Peace, Shared Prosperity, and a Sustainable Planet,” President Sisi underscored the River Nile’s historic significance as the foundation of Egyptian civilisation and a lifeline for the nation.
He also stressed that the river must remain a source of unity, development and prosperity for all basin countries.
In addition, the president highlighted Egypt’s distinctive water challenges, noting that the Nile provides more than 98 per cent of the country’s renewable water supply.
Against the backdrop of population growth, increasing demand for water and food, and climate change, Sisi emphasised Egypt’s efforts to improve water-use efficiency, develop resources and maximise their benefits.
“Water is a catalyst for co-operation and shared prosperity, rather than a political tool to fuel conflicts and disputes,” Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Mohamed el-Shennawy quoted President Sisi as saying, urging more international co-operation, adequate financing, technology transfer and capacity-building to address water scarcity, droughts and floods.
The president further reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the development rights of all Nile Basin countries, citing co-operation on energy, agriculture and irrigation projects in the southern basin.
He highlighted prior notification, the exchange of studies and consultation as practical mechanisms for building trust, securing project financing and protecting the interests of all parties.
The Egyptian leader stressed that the same approach should guide co-operation in the Eastern Nile Basin, serving Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, while underscoring that the right to utilise natural resources must be exercised responsibly and without harming other states or undermining their water security.
“Any bet that Egypt will accept a fait accompli or compromise the country’s water security is a losing bet,” he declared, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to dialogue and co-operation, alongside its responsibility to safeguard the interests of its people.
In this respect, President Sisi urged Nile Basin countries to embrace international law, consultation, coordination, good-neighbourliness and the principle of causing no harm.
He also stressed that shared interests outweigh differences and that the basin’s resources can meet the aspirations of all its peoples if managed wisely.
Concluding his address, the president called for moving from crisis management to practical solutions and from commitments to implementation.
“Let the Nile remain a river that unites rather than divides,” he said, wishing participants success and expressing hope that their deliberations would deliver tangible outcomes for a more secure, equitable and prosperous future.
