CAIRO -17 October 2025: Egypt’s Premier Moustafa Madbouly affirmed on Thursday, during his speech at the closing session of the 8th Cairo Water Week, that the Nile is an ‘existential issue’ for Egypt and not subject to compromise
“Water should not be a cause of conflict, but rather the foundation for cooperation and life,” the PM added.
He emphasized that the Nile's water is an existential issue that cannot be compromised, and that the Nile Basin countries do not suffer from a scarcity of water resources.
“The Nile Basin countries do not suffer from a shortage of water resources. More than 1,660 billion cubic meters of rainfall falls on the basin annually, while only 84 billion cubic meters reach the downstream countries – Egypt and Sudan – representing approximately 5% of the Nile River's total water resources,” the PM said
He added that despite this abundance, one party continues to repeat unilateral rhetoric and promote misconceptions about the ownership of the river and its water resources, in an attempt to justify unilateral policies in managing a shared resource.
“This violates the principles of international law and lacks the most basic rules of transparency and coordination among the basin countries, “Egypt’s Prime Minister said.
Madbouly affirmed that Egypt has been and continues to be an active partner in supporting development in African countries, believing that true development is based on integration, not harming others.
The Prime Minister stated that the Nile is not granted by anyone, but rather is an ecosystem shared by countries, and that the claim that there is a share of the Nile's water is contrary to science and the law.
During his speech, the Prime Minister noted that Cairo Water Week witnessed many prominent events and joint ministerial meetings between countries and international organizations, which strengthened dialogue on issues of water security, financing, and regional integration.
He noted that these events confirm that Cairo Water Week is no longer just an annual event, but rather a global platform for exchanging expertise and formulating realistic solutions that link scientific research with executive policies.
“Cairo Water Week discussed numerous issues that touch upon the essence of international water security, foremost among which are the challenges countries face in managing their water resources to achieve security and development for their people,” Madbouly said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Egypt is a clear example of these challenges, as it faces a complex water system characterized by limited resources and over 98% dependence on the water of a transboundary river, alongside a continuing population growth, and a per capita share of water falling below the global water scarcity threshold.
He explained that Climate change in Egypt also poses additional challenges to the Nile Delta and the northern coast, with the resulting risks of flooding and sea level rise.
Fri, Oct. 17, 2025
