Cairo (KAAB TV) – The Egyptian government has issued a sharp condemnation of Ethiopia’s official inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), denouncing the move as a unilateral action that violates international law and disregards the rights of downstream nations.
In a formal letter submitted Tuesday to the United Nations Security Council, Egypt expressed its “deep concern and categorical rejection” of Ethiopia’s continued filling and operation of the dam without a legally binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan.
Cairo described the development as a direct threat to the vital water security of over 150 million people in the two countries.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Ethiopia of flouting international norms and reneging on previous commitments made during African Union-mediated negotiations.
“Ethiopia’s persistence in moving forward without consensus undermines regional stability and flagrantly violates established principles of international water law,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Egypt reiterated that it will not recognize or accept any outcomes from the GERD project in the absence of a comprehensive and legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam.
Cairo emphasized that it has long opted for diplomacy and negotiation, but warned that its patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
“Egypt has shown restraint and pursued peaceful dialogue in good faith for over a decade, but the continued disregard for our concerns cannot go unanswered,” the statement read. “Ethiopia must not expect Egypt to remain silent while its sovereign rights and the lifeline of its people are threatened.”
Built on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, the GERD is Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, estimated to have cost over $4 billion.
The dam’s reservoir has a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, and Ethiopia has been filling it since 2020—unilaterally and without any formal agreement with the downstream states.
Both Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly warned that Ethiopia’s actions—particularly during periods of drought—could significantly disrupt water flow and have devastating impacts on agriculture, drinking water supplies, and overall national security.
Egypt, which relies on the Nile for over 90% of its freshwater needs, has stressed that it reserves the right to take all necessary measures permitted under international law to safeguard the interests and well-being of its population.
As tensions continue to mount, regional and international observers are urging renewed diplomatic efforts to avert further escalation and to find a mutually acceptable resolution to one of Africa’s most pressing water disputes.