Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt and Sudan have reaffirmed the depth of their strategic partnership following high-level talks in Cairo between Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Sudan’s transitional Prime Minister Kamel Idris on February 26, 2026.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two sides emphasized the historic and fraternal ties binding the two Nile Valley nations and underscored their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation while coordinating on key regional issues.
Strong support for Sudan’s unity
Discussions focused heavily on developments inside Sudan, with Egypt reiterating its previously declared red lines and its full support for Sudan’s unity, territorial integrity, and national institutions.
The Egyptian side stressed its firm backing for Sudan’s legitimate state institutions, including the Transitional Sovereignty Council headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the government led by Idris, and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Cairo described these institutions as essential pillars for preserving the Sudanese state, safeguarding national resources, and restoring security and stability.
Both sides emphasized the importance of enabling Sudanese state institutions to fully perform their roles and supporting the government’s efforts to reassert state authority, restore normal life, and alleviate the humanitarian suffering caused by the ongoing conflict.
Idris, for his part, expressed appreciation for what he described as Egypt’s consistent support for Sudan across multiple fronts, framing it within the long-standing “Nile Valley brotherhood” between the two countries.
Economic cooperation and reconstruction priority
The talks also addressed prospects for expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Both governments agreed that supporting Sudan’s reconstruction represents an urgent national priority necessary for achieving sustainable stability.
Egypt signaled strong interest in participating in reconstruction projects across Sudan, particularly in infrastructure, electricity, and water sectors. Cairo also offered to transfer its technical expertise in construction, urban development, and infrastructure rehabilitation.
The two sides stressed the importance of activating the joint Egypt–Sudan reconstruction task force and accelerating the preparation of its executive programs.
They further agreed to move forward with upcoming bilateral engagements, including the Egyptian–Sudanese Business Forum, joint committee meetings, and expanded exchanges of official and technical delegations to facilitate development knowledge transfer.
Firm alignment on Nile water security
Water security featured prominently in the discussions. Egypt and Sudan reaffirmed the need to protect their water interests as downstream Nile states and committed to preserving their full water rights and uses in accordance with the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement and international law.
Both sides stressed that Egyptian and Sudanese water security are inseparable and rejected any unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin that could harm downstream interests or threaten water security. They warned that such moves would constitute a persistent source of regional instability.
The joint statement called on Ethiopia to abandon what the two countries described as unilateral approaches and to adhere to international legal principles governing shared rivers, particularly prior notification, consultation, the obligation not to cause harm, and the pursuit of consensus.
Reviving Nile Basin cooperation
Cairo and Khartoum also pledged to continue working with other Nile Basin countries to restore consensus within the Nile Basin Initiative through the ongoing consultative process with non-signatories to the Cooperative Framework Agreement.
The two governments welcomed progress achieved so far in the consultations, particularly the report submitted by the NBI subcommittee recommending continued dialogue, including the possibility of amending or supplementing protocols within the framework agreement to address the concerns of all basin states.
They also rejected any unilateral attempts to obstruct the consultative track, stressing the shared interest of Nile Basin countries in cooperation and mutual benefit within a framework of solidarity.
The parties agreed to maintain coordination through the Permanent Joint Technical Commission for Nile Waters under the 1959 agreement, emphasizing the importance of supporting the body technically and logistically so it can effectively safeguard the shared interests of the two downstream states.
Support for Sudanese community and future planning
The Sudanese side expressed appreciation for Egypt’s continued support and services provided to the Sudanese community residing in Egypt.
In a notable development, the two prime ministers agreed to deepen cooperation in urban development and reconstruction. Egypt welcomed Sudan’s request to benefit from Egyptian expertise in building a new administrative capital, modeled on Egypt’s own recent experience, as part of broader reconstruction efforts.
Both sides concluded by reaffirming their commitment to sustained high-level coordination, expanded mutual visits, and intensified cooperation across priority areas, reflecting what they described as the strategic depth of relations between the two countries and their shared aspirations for security, stability, and sustainable development.
