Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam warned of intensifying global water challenges from climate change and rapid population growth. He called for stronger international cooperation to secure water resources at the Fifth Istanbul International Water Forum. Sewilam stressed the need for transboundary cooperation and adherence to international law.
Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, attended the opening session of the Fifth Istanbul International Water Forum and will take part in a ministerial roundtable alongside bilateral meetings with officials from several countries, according to the ministry.
Sewilam stated that the forum comes at a critical moment as water systems face mounting strain, urging integrated approaches to build resilience. He underscored the need to embed water issues within the global climate agenda and strengthen multilateral collaboration. He pointed to the 2026 UN Water Conference as a pivotal opportunity, noting Egypt’s role in chairing one of its interactive dialogues.
“Water security is no longer a national issue alone but a shared responsibility tied to sustainable development,” Sewilam said.
On the sidelines, he met Senegal’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, to discuss cooperation ahead of Senegal’s co-hosting of the 2026 UN Water Conference. Sewilam praised Senegal’s leadership of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to working with African partners to advance water and climate priorities, including implementation of Africa’s Water Vision 2063.