Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam has reaffirmed Cairo’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Nile Basin countries and sharing technical expertise during an official visit to South Sudan, which included a tour of Egypt’s irrigation mission in Juba and participation in Nile Day celebrations.
Sewilam said the presence of Egypt’s irrigation mission in South Sudan reflects Egypt’s keenness to support cooperation and integration among Nile Basin states. The mission oversees bilateral projects aimed at benefiting local communities, including groundwater well drilling, clearing waterways of aquatic weeds, and providing technical support in water resources management.
During his meeting with Egyptian experts and South Sudanese staff working within the mission, Sewilam reviewed ongoing cooperation projects and discussed future prospects for enhancing partnership between the two countries in the water sector. He stressed that these initiatives contribute to sustainable development and strengthen bilateral relations.
The minister praised the projects being implemented in South Sudan, describing them as a practical model of cooperation among Nile Basin countries and part of Egypt’s broader efforts to support development across Africa, particularly in water and irrigation sectors.
As part of the visit, Sewilam also participated in Nile Day celebrations held in Juba, where he underscored the importance of the Nile Basin Initiative as a comprehensive framework capable of bringing basin countries together and promoting joint cooperation.
He noted that Egypt views the ongoing consultative process regarding the Nile Basin framework agreement as the most practical path toward achieving inclusive consensus among basin countries, stressing the need to consider the interests and concerns of states that have not joined the agreement to preserve basin unity and sustain cooperation.
Sewilam called for accelerating the consultative process to pave the way for establishing a comprehensive Nile Basin commission, warning against unilateral steps or premature institutional arrangements that could undermine collective cooperation efforts.
He also highlighted the importance of engaging local communities, youth and women in water governance, noting the crucial role women play in managing water resources and supporting rural livelihoods, as well as the importance of investing in youth capabilities to foster innovation and regional stability.
The minister added that Egypt will continue working constructively with Nile Basin countries and development partners to enhance trust and consensus, contributing to sustainable development and regional stability across the basin.
