Cairo has called on the Nile Basin countries to resume discussions regarding the Cooperative Framework Agreement signed in 2024, arguing that a revision is necessary to ensure water security for all riparian states, amid ongoing disagreements with Ethiopia.
Egyptian Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Hani Sewilam, issued this call on October 25 during the 9th edition of Cairo Water Week. He advocated for a consensus-based framework that respects international law and the interests of all countries within the basin.
According to the minister, the majority of the states involved – with the exception of Ethiopia – have expressed support for revising the agreement through the existing consultative mechanism.
Egypt and Sudan, neither of which has signed or ratified the text, specifically object to provisions they deem inadequate for protecting the interests of downstream nations.
The dispute is part of a broader rivalry over the sharing of Nile waters, further intensified by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Ethiopia has constructed on the Blue Nile.
Cairo fears that the procedures for filling and operating the dam could jeopardize its water supply, which is vital for its population and agricultural sector.
Nevertheless, Hani Sewilam urged the parties to move past their differences, asserting that development and water security are rights for all.
He proposed strengthening regional cooperation, particularly in areas such as technical expertise, infrastructure financing, and the development of the basin’s agricultural and energy potential.
Held under the theme “Water: A Catalyst for Peace and Shared Prosperity for a Sustainable Planet,” Cairo Water Week continues until October 29.
Egypt intends to use this meeting to promote regional dialogue, at a time when the search for a compromise on the governance of the Nile remains hindered by deep strategic differences among the riparian states.
MK/AK/fss/as/APA