Egypt Daily News – Egypt has firmly rejected unilateral actions taken by Ethiopia in it’s ongoing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as the situation continues to escalate.
The Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bader Abd Al-Ati, addressed the UN Security Council today Sunday, reaffirming Egypt’s stance against what it views as violations of international law and breaches of the 2015 Declaration of Principles agreement, which sought to manage the Nile’s resources collaboratively.
The remarks by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about retaining Blue Nile water and advancing the dam’s construction have been deemed unacceptable by Egypt.
Officials express concern that these actions exacerbate regional tensions and threaten stability, particularly given Egypt’s reliance on the Nile as a critical water source, supplying 90% of its freshwater needs.
The GERD, a significant project for Ethiopia aimed at enhancing its economic development by generating hydroelectric power, has been a point of contention between the two countries for years, especially as Egypt fears the dam could severely limit its water supply.
The dam is part of a larger strategy for Ethiopia to achieve economic growth, with construction costs reported at around four billion dollars and a proposed generation capacity of 6,450 megawatts of electricity.
Despite over a decade of negotiations, Egypt has expressed frustration over what it perceives as Ethiopia’s unwillingness to engage in genuine dialogue to reach a resolution.
The Egyptian government seeks to rectify the situation through negotiations grounded in good faith as outlined in the Declaration of Principles. If those discussions fail, the agreement allows for mediation or escalation of the dispute to higher political authorities in either country.
Overall, the situation remains delicate, with both nations holding firm to their positions, and the potential for conflict exacerbated by the critical nature of Nile water resources in both countries. Negotiation and cooperation will be crucial in addressing these long-standing concerns and achieving a mutually beneficial outcome.
