November 3, 2026
On Monday, Egypt and Sudan affirmed that the water security of the two countries represents “one interconnected and indivisible body,” declaring their categorical rejection of any unilateral moves in the Eastern Nile Basin, and warning of the danger of Ethiopia continuing to manage the Renaissance Dam in isolation from a binding legal agreement.
This came in a joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the third round of “2+2” ministerial consultations hosted by Cairo, with the participation of the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdel-Ati, and the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilem, and their Sudanese counterparts, Mohieldin Salem and Ismat Qureshi.
The statement stressed the commitment to defending the water security of the two downstream countries and their acquired rights in accordance with the 1959 agreement, rejecting any infringement on them, while emphasizing the centrality of the role of the Joint Permanent Technical Authority for the Nile Waters in coordinating joint positions.
Regarding the Renaissance Dam, the two sides considered that the Ethiopian facilities were established unilaterally and in violation of international law, noting that they constitute a “continuous threat” due to the absence of a binding legal operating mechanism. Cairo and Khartoum called on Addis Ababa to abandon its unilateral policies and adhere to the principles of international law, such as non-harm, prior notification and consultation.
The two countries also stressed that the dam issue is limited to the three Eastern Nile Basin countries (Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia), rejecting any attempts to expand the scope of participation to include the rest of the Nile Basin countries. On the other hand, the two sides expressed their support for development in the basin countries, stressing the need to adhere to technical studies, standards and prior consultation, in addition to their call to restore consensus within the Nile Basin Initiative and develop the framework agreement in a way that takes into account everyone’s interests.
On the Sudanese level, the two countries affirmed their intention to strengthen coordination to restore stability and reject any threat to Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity. Egypt renewed its support for the Sudanese national state institutions, rejecting the creation of any parallel entities, and affirming its readiness to activate the measures provided by international law and the mutual defense agreement to prevent crossing “red lines.”
The two sides condemned the targeting of infrastructure in Sudan, such as water facilities and electricity stations, with drones said to have been launched from a neighboring country, stressing their support for the Sudanese Armed Forces. Sudan expressed its appreciation for the Egyptian initiative to assess the damage to the Jabal Awlia Reservoir and the continuation of maintenance work with the participation of Egyptian experts.
Regarding the security file of the Red Sea, Cairo and Khartoum stressed that its governance is the exclusive responsibility of the countries bordering it in accordance with international law, refusing to grant any non-riparian country a maritime outlet that would affect the sovereignty of the countries of the region, and warning against any attempts to militarize the Red Sea.
The two countries concluded their consultations by emphasizing the continuation of political and technical coordination, intensifying mutual visits, and enhancing cooperation in the fields of reconstruction, building and training cadres in the irrigation sector, in light of regional developments that require unifying visions and positions.
