Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources Announces Completion of 11 Groundwater Drinking Stations in Congo

Dr. Hani Sweilem, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, welcomed Dr. Marie Nyangi Ndambi, the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Economy from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This meeting coincided with the visit of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo to Egypt.

Dr. Sweilem emphasized that Egyptian-Congolese relations are experiencing significant development across various levels, reflecting the commitment of both nations’ leadership to enhance bilateral cooperation. He noted that the Democratic Republic of Congo is an important partner for Egypt within the framework of African cooperation and collaborative efforts among Nile Basin countries.

The discussion focused on strengthening cooperation under the existing protocol between the two countries, particularly regarding the establishment of a rainfall and climate change forecasting center in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This center is viewed as a successful model for technical collaboration in forecasting, early warning systems, and mitigating risks associated with extreme climate phenomena.

During the meeting, Dr. Sweilem reviewed the outcomes of capacity-building initiatives, highlighting numerous training programs conducted for Congolese personnel to support national capacities and promote sustainable development.

The ministers also addressed the status of a project to establish solar-powered groundwater drinking stations in Kinshasa Province, aimed at providing clean drinking water. Out of a total of 12 targeted stations under this project, 11 have been completed and are operational, with work ongoing to finalize the last station ahead of its upcoming inauguration.

Additionally, they discussed implementing modern irrigation systems at a model farm in the Democratic Republic of Congo to transfer Egyptian expertise and enhance water use efficiency while supporting agricultural development. The two sides explored future cooperation opportunities and strategies for expanding priority developmental projects.

Dr. Sweilem reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to support priority developmental projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo to further strengthen collaboration and partnership between both nations while contributing to sustainable development efforts across Africa.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on several regional issues of mutual interest. Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining institutional frameworks among Nile Basin countries to promote inclusivity and consensus among all nations involved, viewing this as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and fostering regional stability and trust.

For her part, Dr. Ndambi expressed her country’s commitment to continue enhancing cooperation with Egypt in areas of mutual interest and building upon past achievements to serve sustainable development efforts and fulfill shared interests between both nations.