Politics
Cairo Water Week opens as Sisi vows Egypt will not forfeit its water security
October 25, 2026 at 07:27 AM
Coverage
17 reports · over 2 hours
The ninth Cairo Water Week convened in Cairo on Sunday as President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi delivered the opening address on Nile water cooperation.
- Sisi declared the ninth session open under the theme "Water as a catalyst for peace, shared prosperity and a sustainable planet."
- Sisi said any bet on Egypt accepting a fait accompli or forfeiting its water security "is a losing bet."
- Sisi said Egypt respects and supports the right of all Nile basin states to development and called for cooperation in the Eastern Nile basin.
- FAO regional representative Abd al-Hakim al-Wa'er said 58 million people in the Arab region suffer acute food insecurity, up nearly 6% since 2015.
- Sisi said the Nile provides more than 98% of Egypt's renewable water resources during his opening address.
- Sisi said a river's headwaters lying within one country does not grant the right to unilaterally control a shared resource.
- UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Water Retno Marsudi called the forum a platform for turning commitments into implementation.
- Water Resources Minister Hani Sweilem said Egypt's annual per-capita water share has fallen to about 473 cubic meters as needs outpace available resources.
- Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said water management is a shared responsibility linked to all areas of economy and development.
- Saudi Water Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley said the Kingdom is expanding desalination and confirmed Saudi Arabia will host the World Water Forum in March.












