Egypt reaffirms 'firm stance' on Nile water rights amid regional talks
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Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty asserts Nile water rights, warns against any harm to Egypt’s share, and discusses Somalia's unity and Horn of Africa stability with Italy.
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Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani talks to his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty, during their meeting at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, April 24, 2025 (AP)
Egypt will not compromise on its Nile River water rights, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said, asserting that the nation’s water share is non-negotiable.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, on Thursday evening, Abdelatty declared, “Egypt's position on the water issue is firm. We will not allow our water share to be affected or for Egypt to be harmed, given our complete dependence on the waters of the Nile River.”
The remarks come as Egypt continues to engage in regional discussions concerning the Nile River and its importance to national stability.
Egypt backs Somalia’s unity, security efforts
Addressing the Somali crisis, Abdelatty stressed the importance of safeguarding Somalia’s territorial integrity and supporting its fight against terrorism. “The discussions emphasized the importance of preserving Somalia's unity, enabling the Somali government to combat terrorism, and preserving the country's national unity,” he said.
He further highlighted Egypt’s commitment to playing an active role in African security initiatives, particularly in Somalia.
Egypt to participate in African Union mission summit
Abdelatty announced that Egypt will send a high-level delegation to the upcoming summit hosted by Uganda, which will determine the contributions of countries participating in the African Union mission in Somalia. Egypt aims to support both the deployment of troops and police personnel for the mission.
Beyond the water crisis and Somalia, Abdelatty noted that his meeting with Tajani also covered broader developments in the Horn of Africa. Egypt continues to prioritize regional cooperation and stability in its foreign policy agenda.
On Egyptian-Somali ties
Egypt and Somalia have strengthened their ties in 2024 following Ethiopia's signing of a preliminary agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which involves leasing coastal land in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland's independence from Somalia.
In August 2024, Egypt sent Somalia its first batch of military aid in four decades, Reuters reported, citing three diplomatic and Somali government sources, in a move that is expected to exacerbate tensions between the two nations and Ethiopia.
The government in Mogadishu has denounced the deal as an attack on its sovereignty and vowed to thwart it by any means necessary, expelling Ethiopia's ambassador and recalling its own to Addis Ababa.
Egypt, which has been in a long-standing dispute with Ethiopia over the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Nile River, has also condemned the Somaliland agreement.
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