President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s complete rejection of any unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, warning that “those who think Egypt will turn a blind eye to its water rights are mistaken.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at Cairo’s Ittihadiya Palace, Sisi said the Nile water issue topped their talks, underscoring the river’s critical importance for development and survival in the basin countries.
Sisi stressed that Egypt supports development projects in Nile Basin states as long as they do not affect Egypt’s water quota. He noted that the combined annual flow in the White and Blue Nile basins amounts to around 1,600 billion cubic meters, but much of it is lost through forests, swamps, evaporation, and groundwater seepage, leaving only a fraction reaching the main river.
85 Billion Cubic Meters — Egypt and Sudan’s Lifeline
The president pointed out that Egypt and Sudan’s combined share is roughly 85 billion cubic meters — just 4% of the river’s total renewable water resources. “Egypt has no other water sources and receives little rainfall,” he said. “Giving up any part of this share would be giving up our life.”
Regional Cooperation Over Conflict
Sisi reiterated that Egypt does not oppose its neighbors benefiting from the Nile for development, agriculture, or power generation. He voiced confidence in the “seven-member committee” chaired by Uganda to find consensus-based solutions that protect the rights of all parties.
Message to the Region and the World
“Those who receive rain do not feel the hardship of those who do not,” Sisi remarked, adding that the water issue has been used as political leverage against Egypt to serve unrelated agendas. He emphasized that Egypt will continue to resist interference in states’ internal affairs and will advocate for development and cooperation instead of conflict.
