CAIRO, Oct 16 (MENA) – Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly affirmed that Egypt’s water security is not open to negotiation or political games, describing it as a matter of national survival.
He added that any idea that Egypt will allow harm to its Nile water rights is an illusion, he said, adding that the country will defend its interests using every legal path available.
In his speech at the closing of the 8th Cairo Water Week on Thursday, Madbouly said that Egypt relies on the Nile for more than 98% of its water and faces increasing pressure from population growth and climate change.
He pointed to Egypt’s limited access to the Nile’s total water flow, receiving only about five percent of the rain that falls across the basin, while upstream countries enjoy far greater shares.
The premier stated that claims about ownership of the river or contributions to its flow are scientifically and legally invalid.
He warned against unilateral actions in managing shared rivers and called for cooperative policies that respect international law and the rights of all basin countries.
The prime minister noted that Egypt has responded to water challenges with major infrastructure projects, including advanced water recycling facilities, canal rehabilitation, and coastal protection efforts. Smart technologies such as AI, drones, and satellite imaging are being used to improve water use and planning.
He added that Egypt supports African development through real projects in water, agriculture, and energy, based on cooperation, not harm. True development, he said, must never be used as an excuse to dominate shared resources.
Madbouly ended by calling for regional cooperation and renewed commitment to sustainable water management. He stressed that water should not be a source of conflict but a foundation for peace and progress. (MENA)
