CAIRO — Egypt has issued a strong warning to Ethiopia over the management of Nile River waters, with Egyptian Foreign Minister warning that Cairo will not hesitate to take measures to protect what it considers its vital water and national security interests.
The Egyptian minister said Cairo has repeatedly made clear that it will not accept further unilateral actions by Ethiopia concerning the Nile, including the construction of additional dams without agreement with downstream countries.
“Egypt will not accept Ethiopia taking further unilateral steps, nor will it accept the construction of additional dams,” the minister said, emphasizing Egypt’s position that its water security is a vital national interest.
He added that Egypt considers itself entitled to defend its interests and water security, signaling that Cairo is prepared to respond if it believes Ethiopia takes actions that threaten its access to Nile waters.
The warning comes amid longstanding tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia built on the Blue Nile. Egypt has expressed concerns that the dam’s operation could affect the flow of water reaching downstream countries, particularly during periods of drought.
Ethiopia, meanwhile, maintains that the dam is primarily intended to generate electricity and support its economic development, and has repeatedly rejected accusations that the project is designed to harm Egypt or Sudan.
The dispute has remained one of the most sensitive issues in relations between the two countries and has broader implications for regional stability in the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin.
Egypt has consistently called for a legally binding agreement governing the filling and operation of the dam, while Ethiopia has emphasized its sovereign right to develop its water resources.
The latest statement from Cairo could further increase diplomatic pressure on Addis Ababa as both sides continue to defend their respective positions over the Nile.
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