Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Energy, speaking through Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa, urged greater regional cooperation and hydro‑diplomacy on shared rivers as its third Water and Energy Week opened on 26 October.

The ministry highlighted the need for reliable information‑sharing, science‑based policymaking and coordinated institutions to turn shared‑water challenges into development opportunities.

Key priorities outlined included expanding affordable energy access, improving water supply and sanitation, boosting irrigation efficiency and protecting groundwater catchments.

Ethiopia also called for stronger hydrological and meteorological monitoring, better basin information systems and deeper collaboration among governments, researchers, investors and development partners.

A day earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi addressed the opening of Cairo Water Week, stressing that the Nile supplies more than 98 % of Egypt’s renewable water resources and is central to its water security.

El‑Sisi affirmed Egypt’s respect for the development rights of all Nile Basin states but warned that any “fait accompli” compromising Egypt’s water security would be rejected.

He advocated prior notification, exchange of studies and consultation as practical tools to build trust and protect the interests of shared‑water countries.

Both leaders framed cooperation as essential, yet neither indicated a breakthrough in the long‑standing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, inaugurated by Ethiopia in September 2025.

Ethiopia’s Water and Energy Week runs until 30 October and is expected to produce policy recommendations, partnerships and investment proposals for the water and energy sectors.

Cairo Water Week, themed “Water as a Catalyst for Peace, Shared Prosperity and a Sustainable Planet,” brings together participants to discuss water security and preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference in the UAE.