Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi congratulated in a phone call on Tuesday Abiy Ahmed for being sworn in as Ethiopia’s new prime minister yesterday, according to a statement by Egypt’s presidency.

Last week, Ethiopia's ruling coalition named Ahmed as the replacement for Hailemariam Desalegn, who resigned in February in a bid to smooth the path for reforms in the East African country.

During their phone conversation, El-Sisi affirmed that Cairo values its strong ties with Addis Ababa and stressed that he looks forward to "working with the new Ethiopian PM to further strengthen the comprehensive framework of relations between the two countries and achieve common interests in the coming period."

Ahmed also expressed congratulations to El-Sisi on his re-election for a second four-year term as president, while affirming that he looks to boost Egyptian-Ethiopian ties and bolster cooperation between the two countries.

Egypt and Ethiopia have been at odds over a hydroelectric mega dam Addis Ababa is building on the main tributary to Egypt’s River Nile, which Egypt fears would significantly diminish its share of Nile water.

El-Sisi had said earlier this year during talks with Desalegn in Cairo that his country would not allow differences over the dam to affect relations with Addis Ababa.