Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, participated in the high-level side event entitled: “Ensuring the sustainability of water availability and sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063 for Africa,” which was held with the participation of a number of water ministers from African countries, on the sidelines of the African Summit.
Binding African principles
According to a statement published on the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Facebook page, Minister Abdel-Aty praised the adoption of “Africa Water Policy 2063”, He pointed out that this vision represents an integrated framework for promoting the sustainable management of water resources in the continent, especially with regard to the very important principles it includes concerning the management and use of transboundary water resources, which are principles that Egypt has always called for and emphasized, and He pointed out that its adoption by the African Summit makes it binding African principles that no single African country can violate or claim non-compliance with.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister highlighted the basic principles emphasized by the vision, foremost among them considering water a human right and not an economic commodity, and rejecting the commodification of water or dealing with shared water resources as unilateral sovereign assets, due to the potential for deepening inequalities and threatening water and food security, In addition to the imperative of international cooperation in managing shared water resources, the necessity for riparian states to approve projects built on transboundary waterways, the rejection of unilateral actions, and the emphasis on adherence to the rules of international law, foremost among them the principles of cooperation, consensus, and non-harm.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that Egypt is one of the most arid countries and depends almost entirely on the waters of the Nile River to meet its needs, in light of the challenges of rapid population growth, urban expansion and the repercussions of climate change.
The importance of legal frameworks in achieving water security and stability
In the same context, Badr Abdel-Aty stressed that strengthening international cooperation and adhering to international and regional legal frameworks are essential for achieving water security, stability and sustainable development in the continent, and He stressed that unilateral and illegal actions in managing shared water resources cannot be considered successful models if the goal is to promote multilateralism and the rule of law, affirming Egypt’s commitment to continue working with African countries to enhance continental cooperation in water resources management and achieve the goals of the African Agenda.
