Foreign Minister Taye meets with Rwandan, Ugandan counterparts

Addis Ababa, September 25, 2024 (FBC) – Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia met separately with Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda and Mr. Jeje Odongo, Foreign Minister of Uganda on the margins of the 79th UNGA in New York.

In the discussion with the Rwandan Minister, the two sides exchanged views on their common stance to hold a unified position on fair and equitable utilization of water resources on the Nile. Foreign Minister Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie mentioned South Sudan’s ratification of the CFA as a historic decision that manifested the desire of the people of the Nile River Basin states to ensure equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile River. Both ministers agreed to stand together in the implementation of the CFA.

The discussion with the Ugandan Minister included the security situation in the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia, where the two sides stressed the need for a careful and comprehensive consideration of important issues before any post ATMIS arrangement is decided. Ethiopia and Uganda, along with other Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), share concerns that any hasty decesion on post ATMIS arrangement could jeopardise significant gains achieved so far against the fight on terrorism.

On the Nile, Foreign Minister Taye noted that Ethiopia welcomes the second Nile Summit that Uganda is hosting in mid-October 2024, to mark historic milestone of the entry into force of the CFA and the establishment of the Nile River Basin Commission.

The entry into force of the CFA is a positive development to ensure equitable and reasonable utilization of the shared resource and enhance cooperation between the riparian states.