Rady: Sisi, Ramaphosa Tackle GERD Developments

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi discussed Saturday developments of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“President Sisi received a phone call from South Africa’s Ramaphosa,” said Presidency Spokesperson Bassam Rady.

Rady added that the two leaders tackled and exchanged views on the developments of the GERD issue within the framework of the relevant tripartite negotiations under the auspices of the African Union headed by South Africa.

Sisi reiterated Egypt's firm position to formulate a binding legal agreement that includes the three countries and an agreement that preserves Egypt's water rights by defining the rules for filling and operating the dam, against the background that the Nile waters represent an existential issue for Egypt and its people.

“Moreover, Sisi expressed his sincere appreciation for President Ramaphosa's efforts in this context,” the spokesman noted.

On his part, Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for Egypt's efforts within the framework of the negotiation track aimed at reaching a solution to the issue, stressing the continuation of intensive coordination between the two countries during the coming period to reach a fair and balanced agreement on this vital issue.

Rady pointed out that the two leaders discussed some issues of bilateral cooperation, as the two presidents affirmed their aspiration to exploit the broad prospects for strengthening brotherly relations between Egypt and South Africa at the bilateral level, as well as at the continental and international levels, given that the two countries have an important political weight that serves African interests as a whole.