Egypt and Tanzania welcomed positive developments in consultations aimed at restoring inclusivity to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and rejected unilateral actions concerning the river, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Monday.

The statements followed a telephone conversation between Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, and Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo. Discussing water security, Abdelatty emphasised the importance of cooperation and integration on the Nile River to achieve mutual benefit. He highlighted the necessity of adhering to a spirit of consensus and brotherhood to restore inclusivity to the NBI in accordance with international law.

The two ministers also reviewed the Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania, which is being implemented by Egyptian companies. Kombo commended the efficiency and expertise of the Egyptian firms executing major developmental projects, including the dam. Both diplomats noted the project as a significant development in advancing bilateral ties and shared economic, investment, trade, industrial, and developmental interests.

Addressing wider regional developments, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region, Abdelatty and Kombo stressed the importance of supporting national state institutions. They affirmed the need to respect the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states, rejecting any measures that could compromise stability or undermine national institutions.

The ministers agreed on the importance of adopting comprehensive approaches to address the continent’s security and developmental challenges, committing to enhanced bilateral and multilateral coordination to support shared interests, stability, and development.