Egypt and Tanzania signed three cooperation agreements yesterday in tourism, agriculture, and diplomatic training, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The MoUs were signed after a joint Egyptian-Tanzanian committee meeting, focused on bilateral relations, and a meeting between minister Sameh Shoukry and his Tanzanian counterpart, where discussions centered around boosting trade and economic relations, especially in the fields of energy, agriculture, and petrochemicals.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam cast a long shadow over the talks, which come as part of Egypt building ties to East Africa amid tensions with Ethiopia and Sudan. Egypt appeared to be lobbying for Tanzania’s support, with Tanzanian Foreign Minister Augustine Mahiga saying during a joint press conference with Shoukry that his country understands that “the Nile is the lifeblood of Egypt,” according to Ahram Online.

In other regional news, the East African Community (EAC) will reportedly sign off on a decision that will merge it with trade blocs COMESA and SADC in 1Q2018, according to Al Borsa. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has been pushing for the merger, which would allow for the establishment of an African freetrade zone that would see duties between member states reduced by more than 90% over a five-year period.