CAIRO - 12 August 2025: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has reiterated Egypt’s unwavering position on protecting its water rights, warning that any belief the country will overlook them is “mistaken.”
He voiced strong opposition to unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, emphasizing the need for collaborative approaches.
At a joint press conference in Cairo with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, El-Sisi described the water file as part of broader pressures on Egypt to serve unrelated agendas.
“We are aware of these attempts,” he said, reaffirming that Egypt’s foreign policy is based on non-interference, rejecting destruction, and prioritizing development and stability.
Highlighting the scale of resources available, the President noted that the Nile Basin, including the White and Blue Nile, receives around 1,600 billion cubic meters of water annually, most of which is lost in forests, swamps, evaporation, and groundwater absorption. Only a small portion reaches the Nile, he added.
Egypt and Sudan’s combined share stands at about 85 billion cubic meters, or just 4 percent of this total. “We want to work together to secure stability for our nations. Egypt has no alternative water sources and very little rainfall, giving up this share would mean giving up our life,” El-Sisi stressed.
He underlined that Egypt supports fellow basin countries in using Nile waters for development, agriculture, and electricity generation, pointing to the role of the seven-member committee chaired by Uganda in seeking a consensus among all states.
“Those blessed with heavy rainfall may not understand the anxiety of those without,” El-Sisi concluded, pledging continued coordination with other leaders to find solutions that safeguard Egypt’s lifeline.
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