Sisi Warns of the Dangers of Unilateral Actions Affecting the Water Interests of Nile Basin Countries

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi warned on Saturday, during his meeting with Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, about the dangers of unilateral actions that affect the water interests of Nile Basin countries, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

The Egyptian presidency added that El-Sisi emphasized during the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Alamein Africa Business Forum in New Alamein City, the "fundamentals of the Egyptian position represented in preserving Egypt's rights and water interests, considering it an existential issue for the Egyptian people."

The Egyptian president affirmed Cairo's rejection of "using the Nile water issue to achieve political gains," pointing to the importance of enhancing cooperation among Nile Basin countries based on achieving common interests without harming any country in the basin.

According to the statement from the Egyptian presidency, the Burundian president confirmed his country's full understanding of the Egyptian concerns related to the Nile water issue, considering the water issue a matter of life and an existential issue for Egypt, emphasizing that development cannot be achieved at the expense of people.

He also affirmed Burundi's commitment to establishing principles of cooperation, consultation, and consensus among the basin countries, in a way that achieves common interests, enhances the optimal use of shared water resources, and contributes to supporting stability and development for the peoples of the region.

On the same occasion, the Egyptian president received his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the meeting witnessed an exchange of views regarding regional developments of mutual interest, where the two presidents agreed on the importance of continuing coordination and consultation between Egypt, Somalia, and the countries of the region regarding issues related to the security and stability of the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Red Sea, which contributes to enhancing regional security and safeguarding the interests of the countries and peoples of the region.

President Sisi also received his Eritrean counterpart, Isaias Afwerki, and the meeting addressed the latest developments in the regional situation, particularly in the Horn of Africa, according to the Egyptian presidency.

Sisi affirmed Egypt's full support for the security and stability of Eritrea, and respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, stressing Egypt's firm rejection of any violation of the sovereignty of states or any infringement on their territorial unity, in violation of the principles of international law and the foundational charter of the African Union.

He also emphasized Egypt's keenness to continue coordination and consultation with Eritrea regarding regional issues of mutual interest, which contributes to enhancing stability in the Horn of Africa, supporting efforts aimed at resolving crises through peaceful means, and promoting cooperation to achieve security and stability in the Red Sea.

In a parallel context, Sisi stressed during a speech at the "Alamein - Africa for Business" forum the necessity of prioritizing peaceful solutions to conflicts and crises, and upholding the principle of good neighborliness in the African continent, pointing out that Africa aspires to a world characterized by peace and stability, instead of being burdened with the consequences of global crises in which it was not "a party."

Sisi added: "Countries in such moments need to support their capabilities to enhance resilience and build their future and the future of their peoples with their own hands," emphasizing the importance of stability for achieving economic development.

The Egyptian president explained that the African continent "looks forward to a world characterized by peace and stability instead of being burdened with the consequences of global crises in which it was not a party and suffers from their negative repercussions."

Sisi pointed out that the current energy crisis the world is witnessing "is evidence of this as it affects and pressures the countries of the continent due to rising fuel and fertilizer prices, the impact on supply and shipping chains, and other repercussions."

Regarding African affairs, the Egyptian president affirmed that security begins with supporting the national state and its institutions, respecting its unity and sovereignty, prioritizing peaceful solutions to conflicts, and upholding the principle of good neighborliness, which supports cooperation and economic integration.

Sisi stated that the "Alamein - Africa for Business" forum provides a platform to mobilize efforts to achieve the goals of the Africa Agenda 2063, and allows space for the business sector to interact with leaders of countries to discuss challenges and build cross-border partnerships.

The city of El Alamein in Egypt is hosting the El Alamein Africa Business Forum, the summit of the founding countries of the African Union Development Agency "NEPAD", and the eighth coordination meeting of the African Union.

He pointed out that the African private sector is the most important and largest driver of the continent's economies, while intra-African trade remains limited, having not exceeded about 18% of total African trade in recent years.

He considered that the forum came "to serve as an institutional bridge, to break the barrier of isolation and close the information gap", enabling the private sector to explore available opportunities and participate in activating the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

He noted that the holding of the forum coinciding with the hosting of the El Alamein city for the mid-year coordination summit of the African Union reflects "the organic linkage between political work and economic work, within the framework of joint African action".

He called on attendees to actively participate in the forum's activities and explore opportunities for cross-border cooperation and trade partnerships, with special attention to startups.