Burundi's Energy Minister Moussa Bouchomi on Tuesday arrived in Cairo to discuss the construction of a hydro-electric station in his country with Egyptian counterpart, Hassan Younis.
The station will be pursued with the assistance of Egyptian experts.
Bouchomi will be in Cairo for two days and plans to also meet with Egypt's Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Mohamed Nasr Eddin Allam, and Minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Abul Naga, to discuss strengthening ties and bilateral cooperation.
Vice President of Burundi Gervais Rufyikiri visited Egypt in early December to discuss mutual collaboration with Abul Naga.
"The need for continued dialogue and negotiations with Nile Basin countries to reach an agreement that takes their interests into account,” said Rufyikiri during the meeting.
Analysts say Egypt fears Burundi will join the Entebbe agreement signed by five upstream riparian nations in May which aims to re-distribute Nile flow. Cairo considers the accord–endorsed by Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania–negligent of Egypt’s historical rights over Nile flow.
