Nile tensions resurface as Egypt slams Ethiopia’s dam completion
Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation criticised the completion of the $4 billion (h518 billion)billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as "unlawful" and a breach of international law.
Ethiopia's announcement last week that its flagship dam on the Blue Nile is complete has reignited regional tensions with downstream Egypt, which dismissed Addis Ababa's renewed calls for dialogue as insincere and politically calculated.
Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation criticised the completion of the $4 billion (S518 billion) Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as "unlawful" and a breach of international law.
More To Read
- Ethiopia wins bid to host COP32 climate talks in Addis Ababa
- Africa’s rapid drone expansion promises high-tech warfare but struggles to achieve strategic results
- Tigray accuses Ethiopian Government of violating peace agreement, warns of escalation
- Murkomen urges Turkana to fast-track land allocation for Todonyang immigration post
- Kenyan abducted in Ethiopia freed after Sh3 million ransom, flown home
- Ethiopia cuts foreign debt by Sh2.4 trillion as PM Abiy touts economic independence
It accused Ethiopia of pursuing a policy of water hegemony through "unilateral actions" and warned that the move disregards the rights of downstream countries dependent on the Nile.
"Ethiopia's positions, marked by evasion and retreat while pursuing unilateralism, are in clear contradiction with its declared willingness to negotiate," the ministry said in a statement, casting doubt on Ethiopia's intent to engage in meaningful talks.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had earlier told lawmakers that the dam—expected to produce over 6,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia's power capacity—would not come at the expense of Egypt or Sudan. "We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water," he said, insisting that Ethiopia remains committed to regional cooperation.
But Cairo is unconvinced. It sees the GERD as a direct threat to its vital water supply.
Egypt, which relies almost entirely on the Nile for agriculture and drinking water, fears the dam could significantly reduce its share, especially during times of drought.
Despite more than a decade of negotiations, no binding agreement has been reached on how Ethiopia will operate the dam or release water downstream.
Tensions between the two countries have ebbed and flowed since construction began in 2011, with past fears that the dispute could spiral into conflict.
Top Stories Today
