Agadir – Morocco is strengthening its bilateral relations with Egypt in the water management sector.
Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, took part in the first session of the Moroccan-Egyptian Coordination and Follow-up Committee held in Egypt on Monday.
On the sidelines of the session, Baraka held talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Hani Sewilam, focusing on shared opportunities to expand cooperation in the water sector.
“I held bilateral talks today in Cairo with my Egyptian counterpart, Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, on the sidelines of the first session of the Moroccan-Egyptian Coordination,” Baraka announced.
He noted that the meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on several issues of mutual interest, related to water resources.
Discussions centered on enhancing bilateral collaboration within the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed between Rabat and Cairo in December 2023.
The agreement aims to promote integrated and sustainable management of water resources amid growing environmental pressures.
The meeting also included a review by both sides of Egypt’s “AWARE” initiative, Action for Water Adaptation and Resilience, which seeks to bolster countries’ capacity to adapt to climate change impacts on water systems.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to this initiative, as well as our engagement in keeping pace with the transformations shaping the global water agenda, especially with regard to climate adaptation,” Baraka explained.
The discussions also covered the role of both countries within the African Ministers’ Council on Water, “where Morocco actively contributes at various leadership levels, particularly at the ministerial, technical, and financial levels, alongside joint efforts to implement the African Water Vision 2063.”
The meeting concluded with the two ministers reiterating their shared commitment to enhancing consultation and coordination, and aligning with the evolving global water agenda, particularly with regard to climate change adaptation.
During the meeting, Morocco and Egypt also strengthened their cooperation through a series of agreements across multiple sectors. These included diplomacy, sports, and areas such as housing and urban development, tourism, health and pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy.
The session also featured bilateral talks between officials, during which Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Nasser Bourita, met with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty.
Another key moment of the meeting came on the diplomatic front, as Egypt reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. Egypt endorsed UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted in October last year, which recognizes Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a credible and practical solution to the Sahara dispute.
