German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Egypt on Tuesday 10 September for a three day visit, the first such visit by a German head of state in 25 years. During his visit, Steinmeier met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and regional issues, including the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and Egypt’s Nile river dispute with Ethiopia. In a joint press conference with the German President, Al-Sisi underscored the critical importance of the Nile River to Egypt, asserting that the country has no alternative water source. The GERD, which Ethiopia has been constructing on one of the Nile’s key tributaries, has been a point of contention due to its potential impact on Egypt’s water supply. Ethiopia has completed four out of five phases of filling the dam, while Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly called for a legally binding agreement on the dam’s operation and filling process, in line with international laws governing transboundary rivers. Meanwhile, as an important mediator in the war on Gaza, the Egyptian and German leaders discussed efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas….
German President Visits Egypt, First Such Visit in 25 Years
September 11, 2024
By Belal Nawar
Senior Journalist
