Ashraf AboArafe
Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, met with Mr. Henry Okello Oryem, Minister of International Relations of the Republic of Uganda, where the two ministers discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations. Minister Abdel Aati stressed the need to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the economic and trade fields, and to enhance joint projects between the two countries and Egypt’s support for the development process in Uganda by increasing the volume of investments and Egyptian companies operating in Uganda. During the discussions, the two ministers discussed a number of promising areas of cooperation between the two countries, most notably agriculture and modern irrigation methods, manufacturing medical supplies and medicines, construction and building, food industries, new and renewable energy, transferring Egyptian expertise in the electricity sector, combating harmful weeds in Lake Victoria and Ugandan lakes, manufacturing human and animal vaccines, and the field of industry.
It was agreed to hold joint political consultations between the two countries at the level of foreign ministers, including discussing issues of common priority between the two countries at the bilateral and regional levels, with the participation of the Ugandan Ministers of Water, Environment and Trade, and that the consultations be held at the earliest opportunity.
Regarding the issue of water security, the two ministers discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation at the bilateral level regarding the management and development of water resources, and the need to study joint projects that benefit all countries of the southern Nile Basin, so that Egypt and Uganda intensify cooperation with the countries of the southern Nile Basin in this field. Minister Abdel Aati stressed that the issue of water security is an existential issue for Egypt, and that cooperation must be based on international law, especially the principle of consensus, non-harm and prior notification. During the talks, the two ministers also discussed in detail a number of regional issues related to the region and the role of the two brotherly countries in increasing joint cooperation and reaching peaceful solutions to existing disputes, especially in Sudan, Somalia and the Horn of Africa region. Minister Abdel-Ati, for his part, stressed the importance of providing full support to the Somali state and its national institutions and preserving Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
