Egypt says water ‘fundamental right, not commodity,’ rejects unilateral acts on int’l rivers

WASHINGTON – 16 April 2026: The Egyptian foreign minister underscored that water is a “fundamental human right” during a high-level roundtable on African water security held in Washington on Wednesday.

FM Badr Abdelatty highlighted growing challenges facing Africa’s water sector, including climate change, rapid population growth, and water scarcity.

He noted that the continent requires around $30 billion annually to achieve water security and provide adequate water and sanitation services.

Transboundary Water Resources

Abdelatty stressed that water is “a fundamental human right, not a commercial commodity,” calling for adherence to international law in the management of shared water resources.

He reaffirmed Egypt’s rejection of unilateral actions in international rivers.

The foreign minister also praised the adoption of the “Africa Water Vision and Policy 2063,” saying it provides an integrated framework to strengthen the sustainable management of water resources across the continent.

He highlighted the vision’s principles on the governance and use of transboundary water resources, principles Egypt has long advocated and reiterated.

Abdelatty said Egypt is among the most water-scarce countries and relies heavily on the Nile River to meet its needs, amid rapid population growth and the impacts of climate change.

Non-Traditional Water Solutions

Meanwhile, the foreign minister stressed the need to support non-traditional solutions such as desalination, water reuse, and wastewater treatment, which require significant investment and technology transfer.

He also called for greater investment in capacity building and stronger institutional frameworks to improve water resources management efficiency.

Boosting Water Funding

Abdelatty urged increasing funding for the water sector, particularly within climate adaptation programs.

He also called for improving the policies and practices of multilateral development banks to enhance their lending capacity in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Egypt, as Chair of the African Water Facility, seeks to enhance cooperation with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency to strengthen international efforts aimed at achieving water security and sustainable development in Africa, Abdelatty added.