Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reiterated his country's commitment to protecting its water rights, describing them as an existential issue for the Egyptian people. He made these remarks while receiving his Burundian counterpart, Évariste Ndayishimiye, who is also the current chair of the African Union, on the sidelines of the "El Alamein - Africa for Business" forum in the New El Alamein city.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Nile water file, with President El-Sisi emphasizing the importance of enhancing cooperation among Nile Basin countries based on achieving mutual benefits and not harming any of the basin countries. He also expressed Egypt's support for development efforts in all Nile Basin countries. President Ndayishimiye, in turn, acknowledged Burundi's full understanding of Egypt's concerns regarding the Nile water file.
The Burundian president considered the water issue a matter of life and existence for Egypt, stressing that development cannot be achieved at the expense of people. He emphasized Burundi's commitment to consolidating the principles of cooperation, consultation, and consensus among basin countries to achieve mutual benefits, optimize the use of shared water resources, and contribute to supporting stability and development in the region.
The meeting also touched on ways to enhance bilateral relations between Egypt and Burundi, with President El-Sisi expressing his country's keenness to continue elevating economic and developmental cooperation between the two nations, particularly in infrastructure, agriculture, irrigation, water resources, energy, health, and capacity building. He highlighted the importance of leveraging Egyptian companies' expertise and capabilities to implement developmental projects in Burundi.
President El-Sisi also emphasized the need for continued coordination and consultation with Burundi, as well as supporting the African Union's role in resolving conflicts and crises on the continent through peaceful means. He welcomed President Ndayishimiye's visit to Egypt, praising Burundi's current African Union presidency and efforts to promote cooperation and integration among African countries.
President Ndayishimiye extended an invitation to President El-Sisi to visit Bujumbura, which the Egyptian president welcomed. The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the positive development in relations between their countries, with President Ndayishimiye appreciating Egypt's role in supporting development and promoting peace and security in Africa.
Key points
- Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasizes that water rights are an existential issue for his country.
- El-Sisi and his Burundian counterpart discuss cooperation in various fields, including infrastructure and agriculture.
- The two leaders stress the importance of coordination and consultation between their countries within the African Union.