The governments of Egypt and Rwanda have sealed an executive action plan to implement a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) on water and irrigation.
The agreement which aims to deepening cooperation in water resources management, was finalised in Kigali during an official visit by Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, where he met Rwanda’s Minister of Environment, Bernadette Arakwiye. Both ministers attended the closing session of joint steering committee meetings held under the Water Resources Management and Irrigation Project.
The committees reviewed progress made under the MoU and agreed on practical next steps to advance its implementation. The executive action plan focuses on development initiatives aimed at meeting Rwanda’s water needs, including watershed protection, the drilling of groundwater wells, construction of rainwater-harvesting dams, and the expansion of clean drinking water supply systems for communities and livestock. It also places strong emphasis on sustainability through capacity-building programmes, technical cooperation, and the exchange of expertise between Egyptian and Rwandan specialists.
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Long-term partnership
The original MoU was signed in September 2025 during a state visit by Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Egypt, laying the foundation for long-term collaboration in water security and irrigation development. As part of the latest meetings, committee members comprising government officials, technical experts, and representatives from the Egyptian embassy in Kigali carried out field visits to proposed project sites and held consultations with local stakeholders to discuss implementation arrangements.
During the visit, the two ministers also toured Kigali’s Nyandungu Eco-Park. Sewilam praised the park as a model for urban ecosystem restoration and the use of nature-based solutions, highlighting its role in integrating environmental protection into urban development and strengthening climate resilience. Arakwiye underscored Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable urban planning that balances economic growth with environmental conservation.
