Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the Julius Nyerere Dam, built by Egyptian companies in Tanzania, as a model for cooperation among Nile Basin countries during a meeting with his Tanzanian counterpart on Thursday. He emphasized that the hydropower project exemplifies collaboration between upstream and downstream states for shared development. The ministers also discussed strengthening economic ties and African Union institutional reforms.
In a meeting with Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty highlighted the Julius Nyerere Dam—constructed by a consortium of Egyptian firms—as a prime example of Nile Basin collaboration. Designed to fulfill Tanzania's electricity demands, the project aligns with Egyptian presidential directives prioritizing regional development along the Nile. Abdelatty underscored the need for joint efforts and integration to secure water resources and yield mutual gains, urging a revival of 'the spirit of consensus and brotherhood' to foster inclusivity in the Nile Basin Initiative. He rejected unilateral moves in the Eastern Nile and praised recent consultations by the Initiative's Ministerial Council to safeguard all states' interests under international law.
Kombo voiced gratitude for Egypt's role in building the dam, deeming it a 'milestone in Tanzania’s development' that reflects the profound bilateral partnership. He invited the Egyptian President to Tanzania for the dam's inauguration, viewing it as a testament to robust cooperation. The discussion also covered surging economic relations, with Abdelatty pointing to growing Egyptian investor interest in Tanzania, evidenced by more local Egyptian companies and frequent trade and investment delegations.
On regional matters, both sides stressed coordination for African Union institutional reforms, advocating a 'systematic, gradual, and clear' approach rooted in inclusivity and full member participation to enhance organizational effectiveness. Abdelatty congratulated Kombo on President Samia Suluhu Hassan's re-election for a second term and affirmed Cairo's commitment to additional technical aid and capacity-building via training in key sectors. The talks occurred in the presence of Tanzania's Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Palamagamba Kabudi.