Egypt Says Sisi Will Meet Trump At Davos As Nile Dam Dispute

Wednesday 21st January 2026

By inAfrika Newsroom

Sisi Trump Davos meeting was confirmed by Egypt’s presidency on Tuesday, setting up high-level talks on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum as regional security and Nile water diplomacy return to the top of Cairo’s agenda.

The presidency said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Davos. Reuters reported it will be their first meeting since the United States announced the start of the second phase of its plan to end the war in Gaza. The leaders previously met in October in Sharm el-Sheikh at a summit hosted by Egypt focused on a ceasefire framework.

The Davos meeting also lands amid renewed attention on the dispute over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Reuters reported Trump recently said he was ready to resume U.S. mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia over the dam, which Egypt and Sudan view as a major threat to Nile water security.

For Africa, the issue is not only diplomatic. The GERD dispute affects regional stability, power trade prospects, and water-dependent economies along the Nile basin. It also shapes investment sentiment in cross-border infrastructure, because prolonged disputes can delay cooperation on grids, river transport and agricultural planning that depend on predictable governance arrangements.

Egypt’s role in Gaza mediation also carries continent-wide significance. Red Sea security and regional conflict dynamics influence shipping insurance, trade routing and tourism, including for African economies tied to Suez-linked flows. When conflict risks rise, import costs can increase and foreign exchange pressure can worsen in import-dependent states.

Cairo’s focus at Davos is also likely to include economic messaging. Forums like WEF offer governments a platform to pitch reforms and investment opportunities, while also negotiating political support. That matters for states managing debt, currency volatility and commodity shocks, where external confidence can influence financing terms.

Sisi Trump Davos meeting: what could be discussed

The meeting provides a channel for two parallel tracks: near-term conflict management linked to Gaza, and medium-term water diplomacy linked to GERD. Progress often depends on whether parties agree on sequencing and verification, especially on dam operations and drought management rules that directly affect downstream flows.

For Egypt and Sudan, the dam is framed as an existential water question. For Ethiopia, it is framed as a sovereign development project tied to power generation. That gap has repeatedly blocked a durable agreement, despite years of talks.

Next steps

Sisi Trump Davos meeting outcomes will be assessed through follow-up diplomacy on GERD mediation and any signals on Gaza ceasefire sequencing. Regional governments will watch whether the talks translate into structured engagement, clearer timetables, or new third-party facilitation.

Why it matters

Sisi Trump Davos meeting matters because U.S. engagement can shape the pace of Nile dam diplomacy and conflict-related regional stability. Both issues affect economic planning, trade routes and investor risk assessment across North and East Africa.