"Water issue to Egypt is a national security matter" - Al-Sisi

CAIRO, Egypt

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received on Wednesday his Tanzania counterpart Samia Hassan at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, to discuss several bilateral topics as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Hassan’s first visit to Egypt started with a bilateral meeting with President Al-Sisi, followed by extensive discussions between the delegations of the two countries. 

The meeting touched upon the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as it was agreed to intensify coordination between the two countries during the coming period on this sensitive and vital issue. 

President El-Sisi warned that the water issue is of paramount importance for the Egyptian people for it is a national security issue.

Therefore, He said Egypt is adhering to its water rights by reaching a just and legally-binding agreement for the filling and operation of the  Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), in accordance with the rules of international law and the presidential statement of the UN Security Council in this regard.

“This agreement would enhance security and stability in the region as a whole, open up prospects for cooperation between the Nile Basin countries, and achieve the common interests of all the parties.” He said.

Every aspect of life in Egypt depended on the river Nile waters; the Nile provide food and resources, land for agriculture, a means of travel, and is critical in the transportation of materials for building projects and other large-scale endeavours. It is a critical lifeline that literally bring life to the desert.

Egypt relies on the Nile for 90% of its water. It has historically asserted that having a stable flow of the Nile waters is a matter of survival in a country where water is scarce. A 1929 treaty (and a subsequent one in 1959) gave Egypt and Sudan rights to nearly all of the Nile waters.

The Dam is the source of an almost decade-long diplomatic standoff between Ethiopia and downstream nations of Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia says the project is essential to its development, but the governments in Cairo and Khartoum fear it could restrict their citizens’ water access.

Egypt considers the dam as a threat to its existence and Sudan has warned millions of lives will be at "great risk" if Ethiopia unilaterally fills the dam. A decade of negotiations under the auspices of the African Union (AU) have failed to result in a deal.

The meeting also addressed cooperation efforts in the fields of fisheries, animal production, as well as agriculture and coordination between the two countries in the field of combating terrorism and extremist ideology.

The discussion in this respect was held in light of Egypt’s experience in spreading the true moderate Islam, combating religious intolerance and hatred, and supporting the preservation of the values of coexistence and tolerance.