Hani Sewilam Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that Egypt is currently examining a range of feasible options to support the NBI, while reaffirming its steadfast commitment to ensuring the NBI’s sustainability and ability to perform its functions effectively across the Nile Basin.
The minister expressed his pleasure to be amongst the participants in Juba, Congratulating Burundi once more on assuming the chairmanship of the NBI “I would like to convey our appreciation to the Government and people of South Sudan for their warm welcome and generous hospitality”, he said .
Sweilam said that the meeting coincides with the Nile Day celebration, noting that This is an occasion of deep significance for all our peoples.
It marks the establishment of the NBI as an inclusive and consensus-based platform that brought together all the riparian States, he highlighted .
The minister noted that The NBI was established more than 25 years ago, adding: “so that we can work together to foster cooperation, mutual benefit, and regional stability.”
“Egypt firmly believes that our future lies in the same path, the path of unity, inclusivity, and dialogue, and not in division, fragmentation, and unilateral actions”, he said .
To that end, Egypt reengaged with the NBI during the past year aiming to reinvigorate our joint cooperation, he arrested .
The minister affirmed that Egypt is currently examining a range of feasible options to support the NBI, while reaffirming its steadfast commitment to ensuring the NBI’s sustainability and ability to perform its functions effectively across the Nile Basin.
“In the same vein, we believe that the constructive way forward is to strengthen the ongoing Consultative Process, with the aim of restoring basin-wide inclusivity”, he empathized .
He stressed that “ This is particularly important given that the States that are not yet party to the CFA have legitimate interests and concerns that must be taken into account, so that we can preserve the unity of the basin and move together to a brighter future”.
In this regard, The Egyptian minister welcomed , the progress report of the Special Committee, saying : “The report noted that the (CFA) is not a rigid document but a flexible living instrument with clear provisions for amendment and progressive evolution under articles 35, 36, and 37”.
He went on that It also underscored that the Consultative Process should continue under the leadership of the Special Committee to address the outstanding concerns to the mutual satisfaction of all Member States, and to facilitate the accession of the remaining States to the “CFA”.
He asserted that Egypt will actively engage in good faith in the Consultative Process. We look forward to its forthcoming steps, with the ultimate goal of acceding to an updated “CFA” that take into account the rights, interests, and development aspirations of all the Nile basin countries.
“Egypt calls upon all the Nile basin States and development partners to support the Consultative Process, and to refrain from any unilateral non-inclusive measures or institutional transitions that will undermine our collective efforts to restore cooperation and unity among our countries, he assured .
“Any move aiming to the transition from NBI to the “Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC)”, should only proceed on the basis of the full consensus of the 10 Nile basin States”, he stipulated .
The minister reaffirmed that Egypt’s approach was and remain to support our brethren in the Nile basin. Our approach is consistently based on the principles of international law, including prior notification, consultation, and achieving consensus, thus avoiding causing harm and reasonably utilize the water.
He reiterated that This was lately demonstrated through Egypt’s support to the 36 projects on the White Nile under the NBI Investment Program, as well as Egypt’s multiple no-objection communications for projects implemented across the Basin, including recently in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. This underscores Egypt’s commitment to enabling sustainable development in alignment with the established principles of international law.
He highlighted the importance of drawing on the lessons of the past and continue moving forward together in a spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, ensuring that no one is left behind.
He noted that Experience shows that sustainable progress in the Basin is best achieved through inclusivity, while advancing without full consensus can slow progress rather than foster genuine basin-wide collaboration.
He called to honor the true meaning of Nile Day “by renewing our collective commitment to the foundational principles of the NBI, grounded in inclusivity, consensus, mutual respect, cooperation, and shared benefit”.
“Let us move forward as one Nile family—listening to one another, accommodating legitimate concerns, and ensuring that no member of our family is left behind. Egypt looks forward to working collectively toward a sustainable and prosperous future for the entire Nile Basin, he concluded.
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