The governments of Egypt and Sudan have renewed criticism of Ethiopia’s “unilateral” actions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), claiming again that the project poses serious risks for downstream states.
A joint statement issued this week as Ethiopia prepares to inaugurate the megaproject expressed concerns related to dam safety, unregulated water discharge, and drought management.
In a joint statement, the two countries said the project “violates international law and represents a continuous threat to stability in the Eastern Nile Basin”.
The statement followed a meeting of the foreign and water ministers of Egypt and Sudan, who gathered in Cairo for the second round of their Consultative 2+2 Mechanism.
From The Reporter Magazine
The discussions reviewed developments on the Nile River and assessed the implementation of decisions taken in the first round of meetings held in February 2025. Like the first round, the latest meetings revolved around the preservation of water rights bestowed on Egypt and Sudan by a colonial-era treaty that Ethiopia has never recognized.
The ministers affirmed their alignment on regional and international platforms concerning water issues and criticized what the statement describes as “unilateral measures” in the Eastern Nile Basin that could impact their shared interests.
“The two nations agreed on the necessity of securing the water security of the two downstream states of the Nile River, and of joint action to preserve the full water rights and uses,” reads the statement.
From The Reporter Magazine
It called for work within the Nile Basin Initiative to “return it to its consensual foundations” and maintain it as a cooperative framework for all basin states.
The statement alleges that Ethiopia’s filling and operation of GERD poses serious risks related to uncontrolled water discharges and “inadequate” measures for managing drought conditions from the dam.
“The Ethiopian Dam, in violation of international law, entails serious consequences for the two downstream states and represents a continuous threat to stability in the Eastern Nile Basin,” it reads.
The ministers insist that GERD remains an issue for Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, and continue to oppose any efforts to involve other basin states in the dispute. The statement also called for Ethiopia to revise its policy in the Eastern Nile Basin.
While the two nations reiterated the congruence of their positions on issues of common concern about Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), in a recent televised address, emphasized that Ethiopia will not compromise its own interests nor undermine the rights of other countries.
“Whether it is securing what rightfully belongs to us or ensuring fairness by distributing what belongs to others, justice lies in properly receiving what is due and then allocating what is due to others,” Abiy stated ahead of the GERD inauguration scheduled for September 9, 2025.
The Prime Minister also said the dam symbolizes “the end of belittling Ethiopia” and represents a milestone that enhances the country’s standing in regional geopolitics.
“As the completion of GERD marks a game changer for Ethiopia, it will ultimately transform the country into a regional power hub, advancing sustainable development while fostering regional integration,” said Abiy.
Once fully operational, the GERD is expected to generate about five gigawatts of electricity, offering new prospects for millions of Ethiopians.
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