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Egypt, EU Bolster Cooperation in Water Management, Agriculture

Egypt's Ambassador to the European Union Badr Abdel-Atti held talks with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egypt's Ambassador to the European Union Badr Abdel-Atti held talks with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt, EU Bolster Cooperation in Water Management, Agriculture

Egypt's Ambassador to the European Union Badr Abdel-Atti held talks with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egypt's Ambassador to the European Union Badr Abdel-Atti held talks with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt and the European Union announced on Friday strengthening their cooperation in the field of water management and agriculture, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Egypt's Ambassador to the European Union (EU) Badr Abdel-Atti discussed the issue with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, the statement said.

It added that the meeting comes as Cairo pays great attention to the two sectors to tackle the current challenges related to food security and achieving sustainable development for agricultural development projects.

During his meeting with the EU official, Abdel-Atti affirmed his country’s interest in cooperating with the EU in providing training and capacity building programs for young farmers in rural areas, as well as cooperating in agricultural ventures, developing agricultural technology, and exchanging technical expertise to develop agricultural systems.

The officials also tackled the repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis on food security in Egypt and Africa, in light of the low quantities supplied of food products, including wheat, and the rising prices.

For his part, the European Commissioner expressed his aspiration to visit Egypt to attend the upcoming UN climate change conference, COP27, scheduled in November in the Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Early this month, Cairo reiterated its demand that Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan reach a legally-binding agreement to fill and operate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The dispute was sparked in 2011 when Addis Ababa began constructing the mega-dam on the Blue Nile.

Meanwhile, Cairo is moving to activate an electronic system to confront and remove illegal encroachments on the Nile amid the ongoing GERD crisis.

Addis Ababa intends to start the third filling of the dam’s reservoir.

Egyptian Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty said on Friday that the data required to activate the electronic system for managing the Egyptian state’s property is being compiled and prepared, to develop the most appropriate ways to maximize water resources.

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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have prevented their so-called prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahwi, from naming the head of his office.

The Houthis have instead forced him to appoint a person of their choosing against his wishes, revealed informed sources in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Houthis are attempting to strip al-Rahwi, who was named as head of the militias’ new government, of his powers, making his appointment simply a cover for imposing their agenda and favoring Houthis who are descended of the line of their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The sources revealed that al-Rahwi had headed to the government headquarters with Rabih al-Mehdi, the director of the office of his predecessor. Mehdi hails from the Abyan province that is held by the legitimate government.

Al-Rahwi was seeking to keep al-Mehdi in his post. However, a leading Houthi member, Mohammed Qassem al-Kabisi, who used to occupy the position of government secretary, barred him from making the appointment.

Kabisi even prevented al-Mehdi from entering his office, resulting in an argument with al-Rahwi.

Kabisi informed al-Rahwi that he had no authority in naming the head of his office, saying that he does instead.

Al-Rahwi turned to the Houthis’ so-called ruling high political council to resolve the dispute and was informed that he should accept Kabisi as head of his office despite his objection.

A decree was issued days later naming Kabisi to the post.

He will effectively hold absolute power in government, while al-Rahwi will simply play a figurative role and only be needed to approve decisions and procedures taken by the Houthi leadership, joining other ministers who have no real duties.

The Houthis have formed a new government that will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in keeping actual power to the militias themselves.

The new lineup includes a pro-Houthi figure, with no diplomatic background or experience, who was named foreign minister, replacing leading General People's Congress member Hisham Sharaf.

The appointment only fueled claims that the Houthis were seeking to eliminate their partners from rule. Al-Rahwi himself had no say in the lineup.

The Houthis announced the formation of their government on August 12. It met on August 17 to discuss its program, referred it to parliament the same day and by the next morning, an announcement was made that it was approved with no amendments or objections.

The incident with al-Rahwi has fueled speculation that the coming period will witness more struggles for power among the Houthis and their partners, whom they are trying to keep out of rule.

Observers noted that Kabisi is the son of a top Houthi leader. Qassem al-Kabisi is one of the founders of the group and is close to their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The senior Houthi officials believe they have the right to represent the Houthis in rule since they are its founders and oldest members.