Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The 2+2 consultative meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Water Resources from the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Sudan was held today, Wednesday, at the headquarters of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Egyptian delegation was led by Dr. Badr Abdel Aaty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates, and Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation. The Sudanese delegation was headed by Mr. Omar Siddiq, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Professor Esmat Qureshi, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.
The following is the text of the joint statement issued following the meeting:
On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, the second round of meetings for the 2+2 consultative mechanism of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Water Resources of Egypt and Sudan was held in Cairo. The discussions took place in a friendly and positive atmosphere, characterized by mutual understanding and a joint determination to deepen cooperation between the two brotherly nations, united by strong bonds of history, geography, and the eternal Nile River.
The discussions focused on current developments regarding the Nile River. The parties reviewed the progress made in implementing the outcomes of the first 2+2 meeting, held in February 2025, and discussed ways to strengthen water cooperation in a manner that serves the interests of both peoples. They agreed on the need to secure the water security of both downstream countries, and to work jointly to preserve their full water rights and usage, in accordance with the governing legal framework of the Nile River.
This is based on the principle of shared interests, equal rights, and international law, including the 1959 Agreement between the two countries. The two sides also emphasized full coordination and alignment of their positions in regional and international forums, particularly regarding their water rights.
The two countries stressed that Sudanese and Egyptian water security are inseparable. They reaffirmed their complete rejection of any unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin that could harm their water interests. The two ministers also emphasized the need to continue joint efforts with other Nile Basin countries to restore consensus within the Nile Basin Initiative and return it to its founding principles of cooperation and mutual benefit for all riparian countries.
The talks also covered the Ethiopian dam (GERD) issue. Both sides agreed that the dam, built in violation of international law, has serious consequences for downstream states and represents an ongoing threat to stability in the Eastern Nile Basin. This is especially true in relation to the severe risks posed by Ethiopia’s unilateral actions in filling and operating the dam, as well as concerns related to dam safety, uncontrolled water releases, and drought management.
The ministers stressed that Ethiopia must revise its approach in the Eastern Nile Basin to restore cooperation among the basin countries.
Furthermore, Egypt and Sudan reaffirmed that the Ethiopian dam remains a dispute among the three countries (Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia), and they rejected any attempts to involve other Nile Basin countries in this trilateral issue.
The two countries confirmed the alignment of their positions on issues of common concern, especially regarding the Nile Basin Initiative and its consultative mechanisms for countries that have not joined the Entebbe Agreement. They emphasized the significant role of the Joint Permanent Technical Commission for Nile Waters, established under the 1959 Agreement, as the entity responsible for studying and formulating unified positions on Nile water matters.
Both sides expressed their commitment to supporting the commission technically and logistically to ensure it can fulfill its mandate and agreed to hold the next meeting of the commission in October during the Cairo Water Week.
The discussions also addressed broader bilateral relations. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the deep-rooted relations between the two nations and stressed the importance of continued official visits at all levels. Egypt and Sudan reiterated their rejection of any threats to the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan and expressed their shared determination to work together to help restore stability in the country.
The two delegations also discussed ways to enhance development projects that contribute to sectoral cooperation. The Sudanese side presented its national priorities for reconstruction. In response, Egypt expressed full support for Sudan’s efforts under the Government of Hope and welcomed cooperation to assist in various sectors for mutual benefit, particularly the restoration of stability.
Sudan expressed appreciation for Egypt’s efforts in facilitating voluntary return for Sudanese citizens and commended the continued high-level engagements to strengthen bilateral ties across multiple sectors.
Finally, the two sides agreed to maintain close coordination and consultation, and to expand training cooperation across various fields, particularly between the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Egypt welcomed meeting the urgent training needs of Sudanese ministry staff, given their central role in reconstruction, and in light of upcoming meetings of the joint reconstruction task force.
