Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged Nile Basin countries to strengthen diplomatic cooperation during critical water security talks in Cairo this Wednesday.
The diplomatic dialogue unfolded during an official state visit by Democratic Republic of the Congo President Felix Tshisekedi to the Egyptian capital.
Cairo seeks a broad regional consensus on cross-border water management to ensure mutual economic development while strictly preventing downstream resource harm.
Both leaders emphasized the profound importance of respecting international law governing the distribution and management of major transboundary rivers.
The life-giving waters of the Nile flow silently through eleven nations, serving as a fragile lifeline for millions of people.
Tshisekedi praised Egypt’s commitment to balanced regional development and reaffirmed his country’s absolute dedication to enhancing strategic coordination with Cairo.
A specialized consultative committee now unites seven African nations, blending the voices of objecting states with neutral regional mediators.
Egypt and Sudan continue to strongly protest the Entebbe Agreement, arguing it systematically dismantles historic, legally binding water-sharing quotas.
The controversial 2010 accord grants upstream nations the power to initiate major infrastructure projects without securing prior downstream approval.
Sisi described the high-level presidential talks as highly fruitful, openly commending Congo for rejecting disruptive, unilateral regional water measures.
The historic cradle of the Nile remains a delicate theater where modern diplomacy constantly wrestles with existential resource survival.