Egypt emphasizes water as a fundamental right, rejects unilateral actions on international rivers

During a high-level roundtable on African water security in Washington, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty underscored that water is a "fundamental human right" and not a commercial commodity. He highlighted the growing challenges facing Africa's water sector, including climate change, rapid population growth, and water scarcity, noting that the continent requires approximately $30 billion annually to achieve water security. Abdelatty stressed the importance of adhering to international law in managing shared water resources and reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of unilateral actions on international rivers. He praised the "Africa Water Vision and Policy 2063" for its integrated framework for sustainable water resource management, emphasizing principles Egypt has long advocated. The Foreign Minister also pointed out Egypt's status as a water-scarce country heavily reliant on the Nile River. He called for supporting non-traditional water solutions like desalination and wastewater treatment, which require significant investment and technology transfer, and urged increased funding for the water sector, particularly within climate adaptation programs. As Chair of the African Water Facility, Egypt aims to enhance cooperation with the NEPAD Agency to strengthen international efforts for water security and sustainable development in Africa.