Egypt’s Africa effort

In recent years, Egypt has been especially busy with the African continent to which it belongs.
Apart from rushing to provide much needed relief effort in case of natural disaster, Egypt has been consistent in offering health care services and convoys to several African nations, also services and projects in which the water resources sector especially stands out. The last few weeks have witnessed major events on this front.

Africa infrastructure summit
Earlier this month, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly participated on behalf of President Sisi in the 2nd Dakar Financing Summit for Africa’s Infrastructure Development (DFS-2), held in Dakar on 2 – 3 February under the leadership of Senegal President and Chairperson of the African Union Macky Sall.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly headed an official delegation that included Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Assem al-Gazzar, Minister of Transport Kamel al-Wazir, and representatives of Egyptian companies that work in the infrastructure field.

The Summit aimed at mobilising key stakeholders around the efforts of the African Union and the African Union Development Agency to accelerate the implementation of priority regional infrastructure projects.
PM Madbouly stressed Egypt’s interest in the African continent’s development in various fields, in cooperation with the World Bank. He shed light on the project of VICMED, navigation along the Nile River from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea, as an example of joint African development projects.
Mr Madbouly drew attention to Tanzania’s huge development project, the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP) which is being constructed by Egyptian and Tanzanian hands as a model in cooperation for development. The first filling of the dam was celebrated by the two countries in an inauguration event last December. He said the construction of the USD3 billion JNHPP which was built in three years and completed in October 2022, aimed to double Tanzania’s energy production, control floods, and improve agriculture.

Inaugural filling of Egyptian-built Julius Nyerere Dam in Tanzania

Egyptian water station in Juba
Late last January, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, joined his South Sudan counterpart Pal Mai Deng, in inaugurating an underground drinking water station in the residential area of Jebel Limon, east of Juba.

The station is a gift from the Egyptian government to the people of Juba.
The event which was attended by Egyptian Ambassador to Juba, Moataz Mustafa Abdel-Qader, as well as officials from the two countries, was marked by an aura of joy and celebration, especially by the locals who were elated at the their new drinkable water station.

The Egyptian Minister said he was happy to partake in this celebration and to see the fellow South Sudanese people happily receiving this source of drinking water donated by the Egyptian people. The station, Mr Sewilam said, will serve some 2,000 people in the region.

Egypt has vouched permanent support for South Sudan, especially when it comes to development projects. With this in mind, Egypt has implemented 20 underground drinking water stations in remote areas in South Sudan, all operating with solar energy to achieve sustainable operation and provide drinkable water for some 100,000 people, Mr Sewilam said. Egypt has also carried out projects in several water related fields in South Sudan, Mr Sewilam pointed out, these included harvesting rainwaters, reducing flood risks and water purification. This in addition to clearing waterways of weeds in order to facilitate river navigation and stimulate trade.

For his part, the South Sudanese Minister expressed his appreciation of Egypt’s support and contribution to his country, especially Egypt’s commitment to provide the people of South Sudan with drinkable water, which he explained contributes to people’s sense of stability, thus reduces conflict.