Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi warned Sunday that any unilateral measures on the Nile River threaten regional stability, reiterating Cairo's firm rejection of Ethiopia's continued management of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without a binding agreement with downstream countries. In a recorded speech delivered at the Eighth Cairo Water Week, themed Innovative Solutions for Climate Resilience and Water Sustainability, Sisi said water is an existential issue for Egypt's more than 100 million people, who depend on the Nile for over 98 per cent of their needs. "Egypt rejects, clearly and firmly, any unilateral actions taken on the Nile that disregard international norms and agreements, threaten the interests of basin countries, and undermine the foundations of justice and stability," Sisi said. "Development is not the privilege of one state but a shared responsibility protected through cooperation — not imposition." The president said Egypt has pursued "fourteen years of patient, responsible diplomacy" with Ethiopia to reach a legally binding deal on the dam's operation but has faced "unjustified intransigence and attempts to impose a fait accompli." Sisi said Ethiopia's uncoordinated management of the dam had already caused harm to downstream nations due to irregular water releases. He urged the international community and African partners to act to ensure fair and safe water management, particularly during drought and flood conditions. The Egyptian leader reaffirmed his country's commitment to diplomacy and international law, saying Egypt's recourse to the United Nations and other institutions "is not a sign of weakness but of strength and conviction that dialogue and cooperation are the most effective paths." Addressing the broader water crisis, Sisi said the world faces "mounting challenges" from climate change, water scarcity, and population growth. He called for intensified international cooperation to develop sustainable water solutions, highlighting Egypt's efforts through major national projects and initiatives. He cited Egypt's $4 billion Action for Water Adaptation and Resilience (AWARE) Initiative, launched during the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022, as a key platform to support developing countries in tackling water and climate challenges. The president also pointed to Egypt's domestic projects — including the Bahr Al-Baqar, Al-Mahsama, and New Delta wastewater reuse plants — as part of a "new generation" of integrated water management efforts aimed at boosting agricultural expansion and climate resilience. Sisi urged African nations to deepen cooperation on shared water resources, noting that Africa is the world's second driest continent and that more than 300 million Africans lack access to clean water. "International rivers were never meant to divide nations," Sisi said. "They are lifelines that unite peoples and shared destinies." The Cairo Water Week, now in its eighth edition, brings together ministers, experts, international organisations, and private-sector leaders to discuss water management, innovation, and climate adaptation across Africa and the Middle East. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
