Egyptian-Ugandan Talks to Enhance Water Security and Stability in the Horn of Africa
The Egyptian capital, Cairo, hosted the third round of (2+2) ministerial consultations between Egypt and Uganda on Wednesday. The talks, chaired by the foreign and water resources and irrigation ministers of both countries, focused on prospects for strategic cooperation on Nile Basin issues and pressing regional matters.
The discussions centered primarily on ways to improve integrated water resources management in the Nile Basin. Both sides affirmed their firm commitment to the principle of not causing significant harm to any party, a position that directly aligns with the established Sudanese and Egyptian principles of preserving water rights and ensuring the safety of river flows through consensus and inclusivity among the basin countries.
In the context of strengthening collective action, both sides welcomed the report of the Nile Basin Initiative’s Special Committee on Engaging with Countries That Have Not Yet Ratified the Framework Agreement, stressing the importance of broad consultations to reach mutually beneficial solutions without unilateral decision-making.
Egypt also expressed its full readiness to mobilize the necessary funding for water infrastructure projects in Uganda and other Nile Basin countries, contributing to the advancement of regional sustainable development and linking the economic interests of the Nile Basin countries, particularly through the activation of memoranda of understanding on technical cooperation and joint resource management.
On the political front, regional security issues in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region occupied a significant portion of the discussions. Egyptian and Ugandan perspectives converged on the necessity of restoring peace and stability in these vital regions, while reaffirming the established principles enshrined in the charters of the African Union and the United Nations concerning respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of states. The consultations concluded with an agreement on a timetable to follow up on the implementation of these outcomes, ensuring the continuity of high-level coordination and expanding the base of economic and trade integration between the two countries, leading to holding the next rounds in Kampala to strengthen this joint strategic path.