Egypt’s Sisi talks water security with Rwanda's president in wake of Ethiopia’s megadam debut

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, in Cairo on Tuesday, as Egypt continues to expand its role on the African continent amid regional water challenges stemming from Ethiopia’s controversial Nile megadam — the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The two leaders discussed ways to boost bilateral relations and pave the way for new areas of cooperation, overseeing the signing of multiple agreements focused on water management, investment protection and infrastructure development.

The memorandums of understanding include frameworks for managing water resources, allocating land in Rwanda for logistical and commercial hubs, developing housing projects and protecting bilateral investments, signaling growing economic cooperation between the two nations, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.

They also addressed the latest developments in Africa and the Middle East, including in Sudan and the Gaza Strip, and agreed on the need to continue cooperation in order to achieve peace and stability in the region.