Egypts President Stresses Uncompromising Water Security Amid Nile Challenges
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi emphasizes Egypts commitment to water security at Cairo Water Week, addressing Nile River challenges.
Cairo, October 25 (Daily Kiran) : President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt asserted on Sunday that the nation faces unique water challenges due to its geographical position and reliance on the Nile River. He emphasized that there can be no compromise on the country’s water security during his recorded address at the opening of the Ninth Cairo Water Week.
El-Sisi highlighted that the Nile provides over 98 percent of Egypt’s renewable water resources. He reiterated Egypt’s willingness to collaborate with other Nile basin countries based on international law, consultation, coordination, good neighborly relations, and the principle of causing no harm.
The president stated that Egypt has consciously chosen the path of cooperation and dialogue. He affirmed, “Egypt respects and supports the right of all Nile basin countries to develop.”
Focusing on proposed projects related to energy, agriculture, and irrigation with southern Nile basin countries, el-Sisi expressed eagerness to strengthen cooperation in the eastern Nile basin in a way that meets the interests of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
El-Sisi firmly warned, “Anyone who bets that Egypt will accept the status quo or compromise on its water security will lose that bet.” He emphasized that the state will not forget its responsibility to protect the interests of the Egyptian people.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the president called for transforming the potential of the Nile basin into partnerships that maximize shared benefits, safeguard the rights of all nations, and ensure that the Nile basin remains a source of development, prosperity, and stability for all its people.
Egypt and Sudan, the downstream countries, have repeatedly expressed concerns over their water shares following the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by upstream Ethiopia. Years of trilateral talks aimed at reaching a binding legal agreement on the rules for filling and operating the dam have yet to yield any conclusions.
Ethiopia officially inaugurated the dam in September 2025, asserting that the hydropower project will enhance electricity production and spur economic development without harming downstream nations.
The Ninth Cairo Water Week, themed “Water as a Catalyst for Peace, Shared Prosperity, and a Sustainable Planet,” will run for five days until Thursday. Over 130 sessions will be held, discussing water security, capacity building, and preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference set to take place in the United Arab Emirates in December.
