Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the critical need for collaborative and consensus-based approaches among Nile Basin countries in managing the shared river, firmly rejecting any unilateral measures that could affect downstream states. The remarks came during a high-level meeting in Nairobi on Monday, February 16, 2026, where Abdelatty delivered a personal message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Kenyan President William Ruto.
According to a statement released by Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties, advancing regional stability, and addressing water security concerns amid longstanding tensions over Nile River usage. Abdelatty conveyed President Sisi's greetings and highlighted the recent elevation of Egypt-Kenya relations to a strategic partnership, formalized through the Cairo Declaration signed during President Ruto's official visit to Cairo in late January 2025.
The Cairo Declaration marked a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation, paving the way for expanded collaboration in political, economic, defense, security, counterterrorism, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and maritime transport sectors. Abdelatty expressed Egypt's anticipation for convening the eighth session of the Egyptian-Kenyan Joint Commission later in 2026 in Cairo to further implement these commitments.
On the issue of Nile water security—a perennial flashpoint in the region—Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's commitment to cooperation and consensus within the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) framework. Established in 1999, the NBI serves as a platform for the 11 riparian states (Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt) to promote equitable and sustainable use of the Nile's resources, which stretch approximately 6,650 kilometers from its sources in East Africa to the Mediterranean Sea.
Egypt, which relies on the Nile for nearly 98% of its renewable freshwater, has consistently advocated for negotiated agreements that respect historical allocations and prevent significant harm to downstream users. Abdelatty's rejection of "unilateral measures" is widely understood as a reference to upstream developments, particularly Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. The GERD, inaugurated in September 2025, has been a source of friction since construction began in 2011, with Egypt and Sudan arguing that unilateral filling and operation threaten their water security without adequate binding agreements on flow management.
Complementing the diplomatic discussions, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, who accompanied Abdelatty, reaffirmed Egypt's willingness to deepen technical cooperation with Kenya. Areas of focus include:
Groundwater well drilling to support arid and semi-arid regions.
Construction of rainwater-harvesting dams.
Implementation of modern irrigation systems.
Capacity building and training programs for Kenyan experts.
These initiatives align with Egypt's broader outreach to Nile Basin partners through mechanisms like the $100 million Nile Development Fund, aimed at financing infrastructure projects across the basin. Sewilam emphasized mutual benefits, positioning Egypt's expertise as a tool for shared development rather than competition.
The meeting reflects Egypt's diplomatic strategy to build alliances with upstream countries like Kenya while advocating for multilateral frameworks. Kenya, an active NBI participant, has maintained a balanced stance on Nile issues, supporting equitable use while engaging constructively with both downstream and upstream neighbors.
The broader Nile dispute traces back to colonial-era agreements—the 1902, 1929, and 1959 accords—that allocated specific volumes to Egypt (55.5 billion cubic meters annually) and Sudan (18.5 billion cubic meters) and granted them veto rights over projects affecting flows. Upstream states, led by Ethiopia, view these pacts as outdated and exclusionary.
In 2010, several upstream countries signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), also known as the Entebbe Agreement, which emphasizes equitable utilization without veto provisions. Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan (which joined in July 2024) have ratified it, while Egypt and Sudan continue to oppose it, arguing it undermines established rights and lacks mechanisms to prevent harm.
Despite ongoing consultations under the NBI and intermittent trilateral talks involving Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, no comprehensive binding agreement on GERD operations has been reached. Recent developments, including U.S. mediation offers in early 2026, highlight the international community's interest in resolving the impasse peacefully.
The Nairobi discussions underscore Egypt's dual approach: strengthening bilateral partnerships with key riparian states like Kenya while pushing for consensus-driven solutions to safeguard its existential water interests. As Nile Basin dynamics evolve, such engagements are seen as vital to preventing escalation and promoting sustainable, cooperative management of one of Africa's most critical shared resources.
