Ethiopia and Uganda have held high-level talks in Addis Ababa, as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni visits Egypt for a separate business forum.
Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mulimba John, met Ethiopia’s Ambassador Hadera Abera on Thursday. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the discussions aimed to “further deepen the longstanding bilateral relations” and boost cooperation on economic ties, regional peace, and security.
Ethiopia emphasised the role of joint ministerial commission meetings — in place for decades — as a way to strengthen the partnership. It also underlined the need to bolster regional blocs such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in support of the African Union’s Agenda 2023.
Talks also covered the African Continental Free Trade Area, with both sides keen to expand business and investment links. Mulimba reiterated “Uganda’s commitment to reinforce previously signed agreements” and stressed the importance of collaboration on peace and security.
Other areas discussed included counter-terrorism and “the fair and equitable utilisation of transboundary water resources,” as well as promoting “African solutions to African problems.”
Nile Dispute Context
Ethiopia and Uganda are both signatories to the Nile Basin Agreement, which seeks fairer sharing of the river’s resources. Egypt has long opposed the deal, arguing it threatens its water security.
During Museveni’s visit to Cairo this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was quoted by state-run Ahram newspaper as saying he would not allow the Nile’s waters “to be touched.”
Ethiopia has consistently rejected what it calls Egypt’s monopoly over the river, insisting on equitable use. Uganda appears to share that view — a possible reason for El-Sisi’s pointed remarks to Museveni.
