Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has formally informed Uganda of its intention to take official measures to safeguard its water security, as tensions escalate over Ethiopia’s continued unilateral actions related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The message was delivered by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during a visit to the Ugandan city of Entebbe, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni and other top officials.
Carrying a letter from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Abdelatty made clear that Egypt views the ongoing developments as a direct threat to its national interests. “Egypt will not hesitate to take all necessary actions to protect its historic rights to Nile water, in full accordance with international law,” he stated.
Abdelatty criticized Ethiopia’s ongoing filling and operation of the GERD without a binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan. He described these moves as a blatant violation of international legal norms governing transboundary water resources, emphasizing that the Nile is a matter of existential concern for Egypt.
The Nile: A Lifeline Under Threat
Egypt relies on the Nile River for over 90% of its freshwater needs. The GERD, which Ethiopia began constructing in 2011 on the Blue Nile responsible for nearly 86% of the Nile’s flow has been a source of escalating tensions in the region. Addis Ababa argues the project is essential for economic development and electricity generation, while Cairo and Khartoum fear it could dangerously restrict their water supplies.
Abdelatty’s visit to Uganda comes amid a renewed Egyptian diplomatic push aimed at rallying regional and international support. The minister’s statements were made during the second round of Egypt-Uganda “2+2” consultations, involving the foreign and water ministers of both countries. The meetings, held in Kampala, followed an initial round hosted by Cairo in December 2024.
Egyptian Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Hani Sewilam also participated in the talks. He met with senior Ugandan officials, including Beatrice Anywar, Uganda’s State Minister for the Environment, to discuss bilateral water cooperation and shared concerns over the future of the Nile Basin.
Cairo Emphasizes Legal Frameworks and Cooperation
Speaking alongside Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem, Abdelatty underlined Egypt’s commitment to regional cooperation based on established legal principles. “We reject all unilateral actions that violate international law in the Eastern Nile Basin,” he said, reiterating that Egypt’s position is grounded in legal agreements, most notably the 1929 and 1959 treaties, which defined water-sharing allocations between Egypt and Sudan.
While Ethiopia and several upstream countries, including Uganda, argue those colonial-era agreements are outdated and non-binding, Egypt insists they remain valid until a new, comprehensive accord is reached.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Tamim Khalaf reinforced the message, stating, “Egypt will take every step necessary, in line with international law, to defend its water security and ensure the sustainable use of Nile resources.”
Uganda: A Key Player in the Nile Equation
Uganda plays a pivotal role as one of the Nile’s upstream states and a signatory to the 2010 Entebbe Agreement, which calls for the redistribution of Nile water rights a move Egypt has not accepted. Despite differences over legal frameworks, Cairo and Kampala have maintained strong ties, particularly in security and water development sectors.
Since 2021, Egypt and Uganda have expanded cooperation on intelligence-sharing and infrastructure projects. One notable example is Egypt’s support for constructing rainwater harvesting dams in northern and eastern Uganda. Five small dams, costing nearly $10 million, are being built to help manage flood risks and improve water storage capacity in areas such as Kasese District. The first phase of the project was completed by the Arab Contractors Company, with joint Egyptian-Ugandan technical involvement.
Minister Sewilam emphasized the broader value of these partnerships. “Our collaboration is not only about development—it’s about solidarity and sustainable water management across the basin,” he said.
No End in Sight to GERD Deadlock
Despite years of African Union-mediated talks, the tripartite negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have stalled repeatedly. Ethiopia has already conducted multiple unilateral fillings of the GERD reservoir in 2020 and 2021, further inflaming tensions. Egypt and Sudan see these actions as reckless and destabilizing, while Ethiopia continues to claim minimal impact on downstream countries.
With no binding agreement in place, and regional diplomacy reaching a critical point, Egypt’s latest move signals a shift toward firmer posturing in defense of what it sees as a national red line.
“The Nile is not just a river it is a matter of life or death for Egypt,” Abdelatty declared. “We will not accept any compromise on our water rights, and we are prepared to act accordingly.”
