Egypt reasserts water rights, Red Sea authority at African Union summit

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Atty on Sunday reinforced the country’s longstanding positions on water access and Red Sea governance during meetings with African Union leaders, prime ministers, and foreign ministers at the AU summit in Addis Ababa.

Abdel-Atty called access to clean water a fundamental human right, stressing that drinking water is essential for both social welfare and human development. He praised the African Water Vision and Policy 2063, adopted by African heads of state, as a step towards safeguarding the continent’s water resources. The framework, he said, requires adherence to international law, including principles of cooperation, consensus, and avoiding harm, particularly in projects on shared and transboundary rivers.

On Red Sea governance, Abdel-Atty said oversight should remain exclusively with the coastal states, rejecting external attempts to assert influence. He also highlighted Egypt’s work to strengthen the Council of Arab and African States bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, aiming to foster regional cooperation, sustainable development, and long-term security and stability.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English