President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast opposition to external interference in the domestic affairs of African nations, underscoring its call for full respect of their sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

He made the remarks on Sunday as he addressed the opening session of the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union and regional economic communities, hosted by Egypt in New Alamein City.

El-Sisi stressed that relations among African countries must be based on mutual respect and good-neighborly relations, as well as dialogue and consultation, away from unilateral policies or narrow interests.

He added that sustainable management of shared resources, foremost among which is water, represents “a true test of our ability to integrate and transform overlapping interests into opportunities for cooperation.”

Cooperation on Shared Rivers

The president stressed that cooperation on managing transboundary rivers based on international law, consultation and coordination, good neighborliness and the principle of doing no harm.

“Given its geographic position and the needs of its people, Egypt fully recognizes the importance of water issues,” El-Sisi said.

He affirmed the right of every state to development but “in a responsible manner that does not cause harm to other states.”

“Our shared interests are greater than our differences,” El-Sisi said. “We can achieve well-being and prosperity for our peoples when intentions are sincere, dialogue prevails, and we uphold the principle of mutual benefit.”

He added that “transboundary issues must be addressed as matters that require cooperation, not competition, and dialogue, not confrontation.”