President El-Sisi Discusses GERD with South African President Ramaphosa on Phone Call

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received this morning a phone call from President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

The Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency stated that, during the call, the two presidents discussed the latest developments on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, GERD. The two leaders also exchanged views on the recent tripartite GERD negotiations conducted under the auspices of the African Union (AU) in the presence of a number of international observers.

During the call, President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s consistent stance driven by the significance of the Nile water as an existential issue for the Egyptian people. Thus, the President stressed that it is imperative to conclude a comprehensive legally-binding agreement among all parties concerned on the rules for the filling and operation of the dam. Additionally, any unilateral measures that would inflict harm upon Egypt’s Nile water rights must be rejected. The President also expressed his appreciation for the efforts exerted by President Ramaphosa in this regard.

For his part, President Ramaphosa praised the constructive approach adopted by Egypt during the latest round of negotiations on the GERD under the aegis of the AU, which reflects Egypt’s sincere political will to reach a solution to this crisis.

The two leaders agreed to continue intensive coordination between both countries on this vital issue.