Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi speaks during a joint press conference with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Cairo, Egypt. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Presidential spokesman.
El-Sisi’s remarks came during a joint press conference in Cairo with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is on an official visit to Egypt.
In the press conference following the signing ceremonies, El-Sisi stressed that the Nile River is a “matter of existence” for Egypt and that Cairo will not accept any infringement on its water rights.
El-Sisi said Egypt is ready to engage in constructive cooperation with Nile Basin countries to manage the river in a way that “achieves common development, away from the logic of domination or harming the interests of any party.”
El-Sisi’s remarks come amid a long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile.
Egypt spent a decade in fruitless negotiations with Ethiopia to reach a binding agreement on the dam's filling and operation. It fears the dam could reduce its share of Nile water.
Despite the lack of an accord with downstream nations, Egypt and Sudan, Ethiopia has unilaterally filled the dam over the past year and announced its inauguration earlier this month.
Egypt, which already suffers from water shortage, depends on the Nile for around 98 percent of its water. The Blue Nile, where the GERD is located, is the source of 85 percent of the 55 billion cubic meters of Nile water that Egypt receives annually.
Before the press conference, the two leaders held a closed-door meeting to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including health, education, infrastructure, water management, and investment.
They also discussed regional issues in Africa and the Middle East, including the conflict in Gaza, and witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding.
El-Sisi said he discussed with the Rwandan president ways to enhance the transfer of Egyptian expertise, provide technical support, and develop Rwanda’s national capacities.
El-Sisi noted that both sides affirmed their determination to elevate the level of partnership between Egypt and Rwanda — a relationship rooted in the 1960s — and to work on increasing trade volumes and encouraging mutual investments to further strengthen economic cooperation.
Palestinian statehood
El-Sisi also reiterated Egypt’s categorical rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land.
He stressed that a genuine political process leading to an independent Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the only viable solution.
He welcomed the outcome of the “Two-State Solution” conference in New York, including new recognitions of the State of Palestine, saying it reinforced the only path to lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Rwanda’s reconciliation, growth
Meanwhile, the Egyptian president praised Rwanda’s “remarkable achievements” in national reconciliation and sustainable economic growth in recent years, describing it as a model to be emulated.
El-Sisi also lauded Kigali’s balanced positions on regional issues and expressed appreciation for Rwanda’s role in fostering understanding within the Nile Basin.
Turning to wider regional matters, El-Sisi said Egypt is committed to supporting peace and stability in East Africa, including efforts to resolve the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.
He highlighted Egypt’s leadership role in post-conflict reconstruction within the African Union and reaffirmed coordination with Rwanda on African peace and security issues.
From his side, the Rwandan President affirmed that Rwanda sees Egypt as a strong partner, underlining the growing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
He said the agreements signed during the visit mark a new step in cooperation, including plans to establish an advanced cardiac care centre in Rwanda’s Tigali region.
The project, he noted, will strengthen Rwanda’s ability to treat heart disease and benefit other African countries.
The step also reflects the depth of bilateral ties and Egypt’s continued support for Rwanda’s health sector through training, pharmaceuticals, and medical expertise, he added.
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