Egypt and Kenya have pledged closer cooperation on Nile Basin issues, stressing the need for joint action to protect the river and ensure its sustainable use, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry stated on Monday.
The commitment came in a joint statement following consultations in Nairobi involving Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Water Resources Minister Hani Sewilam with their Kenyan counterparts, Musalia Mudavadi and Eric Muriithi.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation, inclusivity, and dialogue through the Nile Basin Initiative’s consultative process in a way that ensures mutual benefit for all basin countries, the statement said.
The talks framed the initiative as part of broader efforts to advance water security, socio-economic development, and ecosystem protection in line with international law.
Ministers also agreed to continue consultations on Nile Basin issues and to deepen regional integration among basin states.
Beyond water cooperation, the discussions covered regional developments in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Great Lakes region, including efforts to restore stability in Somalia and Sudan.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence in line with the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act and the United Nations (UN) Charter.
In a separate meeting with Mudavadi, Abdelatty stressed the importance of consensus and inclusivity within the Nile Basin Initiative and warned against unilateral measures.
He welcomed what he described as ongoing consultative steps to restore inclusivity in a manner that safeguards the interests of all Nile Basin countries.
Mudavadi, for his part, emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation, and praised Egypt’s call for engagement within the consultative mechanism, particularly at a recent ministerial meeting in Burundi.
The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in water resources management. Abdelatty said he hopes Kenya will benefit from Egypt’s $100 million Southern Nile Basin Countries Project Financing Mechanism, which aims to support dam construction in basin states.
Egyptian officials used the meetings to underscore growing water pressures at home.
Abdelatty has previously stated that Egypt’s per capita water share has fallen to below 490 cubic metres annually—well under the UN water poverty threshold—reflecting mounting strain on the country’s limited resources.
He noted that Egypt relies on the Nile for approximately 98 percent of its renewable freshwater to serve a population exceeding 110 million, and added that authorities have taken steps in recent years to narrow the widening water gap.
Water demand in Egypt has reached about 88.55 billion cubic metres annually, significantly exceeding available renewable resources, according to figures announced last month by Sewilam.
Egyptian FM to Kenyan counterpart :Egypt welcomes Nile Basin consultative steps to restore consensus
