Egypt calls Grand Ethiopian Dam illegitimate — Anadolu Agency
In Egypt, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam stated that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile is illegitimate. According to him, Cairo reserves the right to take measures it considers necessary to protect the country’s water security. This was reported by Anadolu Agency.
Cairo’s position
Sewilam made the statement in Cairo during a briefing for representatives of foreign media organized by Egypt’s State Information Service. He stressed that the completion of the dam’s construction and the passage of time do not mean that Egypt agrees with the situation or has relinquished its rights.
The minister recalled the Declaration of Principles signed by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in 2015. According to him, the document provided for cooperation, reaching an agreement on the first filling and annual operation of the dam, as well as coordination and data exchange. Sewilam claims that the declaration does not grant Ethiopia the right to act unilaterally, and that continued filling and operation of the facility without an agreement is a violation of the commitments undertaken.
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Risks to water flows
Sewilam stated that the dam’s uncoordinated operation could cause a sudden increase or sharp decrease in water flow and potentially affect dams in Egypt and Sudan. According to him, Cairo’s main concern relates to the timing and volumes of water releases and the rules under which they would take place, rather than electricity generation in Ethiopia itself.
The minister also stressed the need for a legally binding agreement that would establish procedures for periods of prolonged drought or recurring floods. Egypt and Sudan are calling for a trilateral agreement regulating the filling and operation of the dam. Ethiopia, in turn, says such an agreement is not necessary for operating the facility and assures that it has no intention of harming the interests of other countries. Negotiations among the three states were suspended in 2020, resumed in 2023, and reached a deadlock again in 2024.
