President Sisi: Egypt demands Nile water rights, binding agreement with Ethiopia on Ethiopian dam

CAIRO – 20 December 2025: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said that Egypt has no disputes with its Ethiopian neighbors and Cairo’s sole demand is the preservation of its Nile water rights and the achievement of a legally binding agreement on the Ethiopian dam. 

In a speech given during a meeting with ministers and heads of African delegations, as well as representatives of the African Union Commission and regional economic communities, participating in the second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, which Egypt is hosting on Saturday, President Sisi stressed that Egypt’s policy remains consistent, based on non-interference in other countries’ affairs and non-destabilization. 

“Despite differences with Ethiopia, Egypt has never issued threats, believing that disputes must be resolved through dialogue and political solutions,” President Sisi said.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs. The official spokesperson for the Presidency stated that President El-Sisi welcomed the ministers and representatives of the participating delegations and delivered a speech on the occasion.

President Sisi: Egypt’s investments in Africa over $12 billion

In his speech, President Sisi said that despite the efforts of our countries, development in Africa continues to face numerous challenges, including weak infrastructure, insufficient funding, and high risks. He added that, therefore, the Egyptian vision for development in Africa is based on the following five pillars inlcuding supporting the implementation of strategic corridors and logistics zones; enhancing cooperation in the energy sector and electricity interconnection; supporting agricultural development and achieving food security, promoting intra-African trade; and enhancing cooperation in the fields of communications, information technology, and artificial intelligence.

President Sisi continued that -in line with its vision for Africa’s development- Egypt is committed to leveraging all available cooperation tools, including encouraging Egyptian companies to expand investments and partnerships across the continent.

Egypt has also established an agency to guarantee exports and investments in Africa, supporting these efforts. As a result, total Egyptian investments in Africa have exceeded $12 billion, while total trade with African countries has surpassed $10 billion, President Sisi said.

Moreover, Egypt continues to support capacity-building and human development initiatives through the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development, which has implemented over 700 training programs across various fields, aligned with the priorities of our sister African nations.

Egypt affirms the importance of joint action to achieve equitable and fair utilization of shared transboundary resources, including water resources. Accordingly, there is no justification for unilateral actions that could harm the rights of riparian states or undermine opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit.

Egypt’s support for Nile Basi Countries

Given Egypt’s geographical and historical connection to the Nile Basin, the country has, for decades, cooperated with basin states to ensure equitable and fair use of water resources in accordance with international law. This includes collaboration on dam construction and the implementation of joint development projects, President Sisi continued.

He added that Egypt has recently supported several initiatives under the Nile Basin Initiative and established a financing mechanism to support water and infrastructure projects in the countries of the southern Nile Basin. These efforts reflect Egypt’s belief in the shared right of all basin countries to development, while safeguarding downstream nations from harm.

Egypt to participate in AMISOM

Recognizing the close link between Egypt and the Horn of Africa region, the country emphasizes the importance of achieving and maintaining regional stability and securing navigation in the Red Sea, which are key elements for both regional and international security. In this context, Egypt intends to participate in the new African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and is actively working to secure the necessary funding for the mission.

Egypt reaffirms its commitment to supporting the work of African Union institutions, particularly those it hosts, including by facilitating partnerships that enable these institutions to implement effective programs and projects aligned with the aspirations of our peoples, President Sisi said.

Egypt has also consistently exerted, and will continue to exert, every effort - through its leadership role in post-conflict reconstruction and development, and its chairmanship of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Steering Committee - to support continental development initiatives, mobilize funding for ambitious projects, and implement reconstruction programs in post-conflict areas.

The country will continue advocating for African positions and priorities in regional and international forums, particularly concerning the reform of the UN Security Council in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, as well as advancing the reform of international financial structures to secure more equitable representation for Africa in global governance institutions.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for the participants’ presence, conveying his greetings to the leaders of African states and governments. He wished them a successful visit to Cairo and productive discussions to further the progress of joint African action.

Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, the official spokesperson, noted that the President held an interactive dialogue with participants, during which he expressed his commitment to improving the lives of people across the continent. He highlighted Africa’s abundant natural and human resources and emphasized that the key challenge lies in effectively managing and implementing development plans. As examples, he cited the continent’s livestock wealth, which could support a self-sufficient and export-oriented meat industry, and the surplus of rainfall and water resources, which could meet Africa’s needs if properly managed. He stressed that instability and insecurity remain the greatest obstacles to attracting investment.

President El-Sisi underscored the need to prioritize security and stability, warning that their absence increases financial and credit risks. He expressed his wishes for continued stability, development, and prosperity for all African countries, emphasizing that the stability of one nation should not come at the expense of another. He recalled that during Egypt’s 2019 African Union presidency, he advocated for adequate infrastructure for African nations during meetings with European and Western leaders.

The President also emphasized the importance of strong infrastructure as a foundation for stability, conflict reduction, and sustainable progress in Africa, noting that it provides hope to populations and that military solutions cannot resolve crises; political solutions are the most effective path forward.

Participating ministers expressed their gratitude for Egypt’s continued support for peace, development, and prosperity in Africa and the Middle East. They commended President El-Sisi personally, as well as Egypt’s companies, for their active role in implementing development projects across the continent, and expressed hope that Egypt will maintain its leadership in supporting African nations’ growth and stability.

Drawing on its experience in combating terrorism, Egypt is committed to strengthening cooperation with African nations to confront this threat through a comprehensive approach encompassing security, development, intellectual, and social dimensions. Initiatives include the engagement of Al-Azhar and programs of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding, the President said.