In a bid to strengthen alliances among Nile Basin countries, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has engaged in bilateral talks with Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in Cairo, with the contentious River Nile issue high on the agenda.
The meeting comes in the context of ongoing tensions over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Egypt fears could reduce the amount of water flowing into the country. Uganda, as a signatory to the Nile Basin Initiative alongside Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt, plays a strategic role in fostering dialogue and cooperation among member states.
Uganda’s role in the discussions was significant due to its geographic position as home to Lake Victoria, the source of the White Nile, which contributes substantially to the river’s overall flow. As one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, President Museveni also holds considerable influence in regional diplomacy, often acting as a mediator in African Union affairs.
“Anyone who imagines that Egypt will turn a blind eye to an existential threat to its water security is mistaken… We will continue to monitor the situation and take all measures provided for under international law to safeguard our people’s existential resources,” Sisi warned as quoted by news sources.
A decade of negotiations between the downstream nations and Ethiopia has failed to produce an agreement.
Ethiopia has accused Egypt and Sudan of seeking to curtail its development ambitions.
