Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieldin Salem held the talks on the sidelines of an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in Jeddah, according to Egypt’s foreign ministry.

The two ministers stated that Egypt and Sudan would continue to coordinate their positions on Nile-related issues at regional and international forums, emphasizing their shared interests as downstream states.

The meeting also addressed the conflict in Sudan. Abdelatty called for intensified regional and international efforts to secure a humanitarian truce that could lead to a comprehensive ceasefire, and urged guarantees for civilian protection and unimpeded humanitarian access. He condemned the Rapid Support Forces' (RSF) violent attacks on civilians in El-Fasher and North Kordofan.

Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and national institutions, describing the country as going through a critical phase.

The talks also touched on regional developments, with Abdelatty condemning Israel’s recognition of the self-declared Somaliland, calling the move a violation of international law and a threat to Somalia’s territorial integrity and regional stability.

The meeting comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement within the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) following years of deadlock over the Cooperative Framework Agreement, which aims to establish a permanent Nile Basin Commission.

Abdelatty said negotiations had previously stalled over disagreements between downstream states, including Egypt and Sudan, and an upstream bloc led by Ethiopia. He said a recent ministerial meeting in Burundi agreed to reopen the 2010 framework to address downstream concerns.

“If consensus is reached, Egypt will return strongly to the initiative and support its transformation into a Nile Water Commission,” Abdelatty said, adding that Cairo’s participation remains contingent on guarantees protecting its water rights.

“Our basic principle is clear: Egypt cannot compromise or neglect its water rights,” he affirmed.