Egypt Daily News – Egypt has responded to the announcement by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister regarding the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and its official opening scheduled for September, calling the move illegal and in violation of international law.
On Thursday, Egyptian Minister of Irrigation, Eng. Hani Sewilam, in a meeting with Egyptian ambassadors, strongly rejected Ethiopia’s continued unilateral actions concerning the Nile River. He stated that Ethiopia has consistently promoted the narrative that the construction of the dam is complete, despite it being illegal and without a binding agreement with the downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan ignoring fundamental concerns raised by both nations.
Sewilam emphasized that Egypt has shown genuine political commitment to reaching a legally binding agreement on the dam that ensures mutual interests and prevents harm to the downstream states. However, he noted that Ethiopia has demonstrated a lack of political will, seeking instead to impose water hegemony rather than fostering partnership and cooperation, something Egypt will not tolerate.
“Stalling and Deception”
Sewilam also described Ethiopia’s repeated calls to resume negotiations as superficial gestures aimed at improving its international image. He pointed out that the negotiation track, which has dragged on for more than 13 years, proves Ethiopia’s unwillingness to reach an agreement.
He stressed that Ethiopia’s evasive and inconsistent positions, along with its continued imposition of unilateral measures, contradict its public statements about wanting to negotiate. Egypt firmly rejects any attempts to pursue development in Ethiopia at the expense of the rights of the downstream countries.
“The Dam Is Complete”
Earlier on Thursday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that construction of the GERD is complete and that its official opening is planned for September. Addressing parliament, he claimed the dam had not affected water levels at Egypt’s High Dam and had not caused any negative impacts on either Egypt or Sudan.
The GERD remains a point of contention among Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Cairo has previously affirmed that the issue is not dormant and is being discussed with international partners. In earlier remarks to Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, Yasser Sorour, Egypt’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Sudanese Affairs, said diplomatic efforts on the dam file have not ceased, stressing that Egypt continues to present the case at both technical and political levels, as it is a matter of existential importance for the country and its people.
The fourth and final round of GERD negotiations launched at the end of 2023 to fast-track an agreement on the rules for filling and operating the dam ended in failure, yielding no results.
Egypt attributed the failure of the talks to Ethiopia’s continued refusal, over the years, to accept any of the proposed technical and legal compromises that would secure the interests of all three countries. Egypt also criticized Ethiopia for backtracking on understandings that had already been reached.
