Egypt Daily News – A seemingly routine group photo at the 2025 BRICS Summit in Brazil has sparked widespread debate on social media, after Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was seen holding hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a gesture that reignited public attention on the long-standing Nile dam dispute between the two nations.
The photo, part of a customary protocol during summit ceremonies, showed heads of state and delegation leaders standing together with holding hands in a symbolic display of unity. However, the particular positioning of Madbouly between Abiy Ahmed and the Iranian delegation drew sharp reactions online, with critics highlighting the unresolved tensions over Ethiopia’s controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
In response to the mounting speculation, Prime Minister Madbouly issued a statement clarifying the circumstances. “This was a protocol photo where all leaders stood on stage in a pre-arranged order. Egypt was placed between Ethiopia and Iran, this was not at our discretion,” Madbouly explained, stressing that the image had been selectively cropped and taken out of context.
The uproar was further fueled by recent remarks from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who announced that GERD would be officially inaugurated in September following the rainy season. In a statement reported by Ethiopia’s official news agency (ENA), Abiy extended invitations to Egypt and Sudan to attend what he described as a “historic event,” reiterating his country’s position that the dam would not harm the interests of downstream nations.
“Sadd el-Nahda [GERD] will not negatively impact Egypt or Sudan. The Aswan Dam has not lost even a single liter of water because of it,” Abiy claimed. He went on to allege that some parties are attempting to obstruct the dam’s completion but insisted their efforts would fail. Despite the provocative tone, he reaffirmed Ethiopia’s willingness to continue dialogue with Egypt.
Tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa have persisted for over a decade due to GERD, which Egypt sees as a threat to its vital share of Nile water. Diplomatic negotiations, often brokered by the African Union or international mediators, have so far failed to yield a binding agreement on dam operation and water distribution.
While the BRICS Summit was intended to focus on strengthening economic cooperation among emerging economies, the photo moment inadvertently brought a symbolic reminder of one of the region’s most pressing geopolitical flashpoints.
