Cairo: SiltaNews – News Desk
Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, met Monday with Ambassador Nermin El-Zawahry, assistant minister of foreign affairs and secretary-general of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development, to discuss expanding cooperation with Nile Basin nations. During the meeting, officials discussed steps to activate a memorandum of understanding signed with Uganda in August 2025.
The agreement includes the construction of water reservoirs, the drilling of new groundwater wells, the mechanization of existing wells using solar energy, and various training and capacity-building initiatives. The ministers also reviewed the activation of a separate memorandum of understanding signed with Rwanda last September.
That agreement focuses on drilling groundwater wells, constructing rainwater harvesting dams, exchanging expertise and professional training. Preparations are currently underway for joint steering committee meetings involving technical teams from Egypt, Rwanda and Uganda. These sessions will review the status of the agreements and begin on-the-ground implementation of the listed projects. Sweilem emphasized Egypt’s commitment to supporting development in the southern Nile Basin.
He highlighted the roles of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development and the Egyptian Initiative for the Development of Nile Basin Countries in strengthening regional ties. The minister noted that these efforts aim to achieve mutual benefits, preserve water resources and maximize utility through joint projects similar to those already implemented in Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Tanzania.
According to Sweilem, Egypt has invested $115 million in regional water projects and training. In South Sudan, this support includes the establishment of 28 pumping stations, two river ports, four ground reservoirs, a water quality analysis laboratory and a rainfall forecasting center. In Kenya, Egypt has facilitated the drilling of 180 groundwater wells powered by solar energy, while providing 75 wells and 28 ground reservoirs in Uganda, alongside projects for flood protection and aquatic weed control.
Further regional contributions include 60 wells in Tanzania, 10 wells in Sudan, and 12 pumping stations and rainfall forecasting centers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, Egypt has provided technical studies for integrated water resources management and conducted training courses for 1,650 individuals from 52 African countries.