Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty welcomed steps taken under the consultative process approved by the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) Council of Ministers to restore inclusivity and consensus, advance development projects that serve shared interests in line with international law, and safeguard the interests of all Nile Basin states.
Kenya’s position on the NBI is broadly supportive of cooperative, development-oriented engagement, while backing efforts to restore dialogue and inclusivity among all riparian states.
In a statement, the foreign ministry said the two top diplomats discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and coordinate on issues of mutual concern ahead of the African Union summit due at the end of this week.
The call, the second within a week, followed directives from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Kenyan President William Ruto to deepen partnership and cooperation between the two countries in a way that serves mutual interests and meets the aspirations of both peoples, the statement said.
On water security, Abdelatty stressed the importance of cooperation and integration on the Nile River to achieve mutual benefit, while underlining the need to uphold a spirit of consensus and cooperation among southern Nile Basin countries to restore the NBI’s inclusive character.
He also reiterated Egypt’s rejection of unilateral actions in the eastern Nile Basin, according to the ministry.
Abdelatty praised the “growing momentum in Egypt–Kenya relations” and highlighted the need to deepen economic, trade, and investment cooperation in line with the strong political ties between the two countries.
He said Egypt was keen to maintain regular consultation and coordination with Kenya and stressed the importance of continuing exchanges of visits at all levels to advance mutual interests.
Abdelatty also urged expanding Egyptian and Kenyan investments in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, construction, and information technology, saying this would help boost bilateral trade.
He called for creating more opportunities for Egyptian companies in the Kenyan market, citing their accumulated experience, particularly in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and industry, as a contribution to Kenya’s overall development.
The two sides also agreed on the importance of strengthening coordination on regional and continental issues of shared concern, especially ahead of the next meeting of the steering committee of heads of state and government of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), currently chaired by Egypt.
Abdelatty also pointed to ongoing coordination between the two countries regarding El-Sisi’s leadership of the post-conflict reconstruction and development file and Ruto’s leadership of the institutional reform file, the statement said.
The NBI was established in 1999 as a regional partnership bringing together Nile Basin countries to manage and develop the river’s shared water resources through cooperation, dialogue, and joint development projects.
The initiative includes Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Eritrea participating as an observer.
Headquartered in Entebbe, Uganda, the NBI operates through a Council of Ministers, a Technical Advisory Committee, and a permanent secretariat.
The NBI was created to promote equitable and sustainable use of Nile waters, support poverty reduction, encourage regional economic integration, and prevent conflict among riparian states.
However, cooperation within the initiative has faced growing strain over the past decade due to disputes over governance arrangements and unilateral actions in the eastern Nile Basin.
Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly stressed that Nile cooperation must be based on consensus, respect for international water law, and the principle of avoiding significant harm to downstream states.
Tensions deepened as some upstream countries moved to advance Nile Basin arrangements without full agreement among all members, prompting Egypt and Sudan to scale back participation in parts of the NBI, arguing that the initiative had lost its inclusive character.
In response, Nile Basin states have in recent months launched a renewed consultative process, approved by the NBI Council of Ministers, aimed at restoring inclusivity, consensus, and trust within the framework.
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