Egypt has declared it will take all measures guaranteed under international law to protect its people's existential interests and rejects unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin. This statement came from the foreign and irrigation ministers following a meeting to coordinate regional and international water policy. They affirmed their commitment to defending Egypt's water security while maintaining close coordination between their ministries.
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam and Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty expressed Cairo's close monitoring of regional developments during a meeting to align water policies. They emphasized Egypt's dedication to cooperation and mutual benefits with all Nile Basin countries, insisting that neighboring states' developmental interests must be pursued without harming Egypt's water security, in line with international law and established Nile frameworks.
The ministers reviewed recent progress in the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) consultative process, aimed at restoring consensus and inclusivity among members. They highlighted Egypt's longstanding support for development in the Southern Nile Basin through a $100 million funding mechanism for studies and projects, backed by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development and the Egyptian Initiative for the Development of Nile Basin Countries. These initiatives seek to boost cooperation and optimize water resource use via joint projects and training programs in countries including Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Total spending on these efforts has reached $100 million, covering infrastructure and technical assistance. In South Sudan, Egypt built 28 solar-powered groundwater pumping stations, two river docks, four ground tanks, and a water quality analysis laboratory, with an ongoing rain forecasting center. Kenya received 180 drilled groundwater wells; Tanzania 60 wells; Sudan 10 wells; and Uganda 75 wells plus 28 ground tanks, along with two specialized projects for aquatic weed control and flood protection. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 12 pumping stations and rain forecasting centers were established.
Furthermore, Egypt has provided technical studies on integrated water resources management and training courses to 1,650 participants from 52 African countries to promote sustainable management of shared water resources.