“Outright Disrespectful”: Water Minister Slams Egypt’s Call For GERD Visit Boycott

Cairo calls for Nile riparian countries to stay out of dam dispute

Egypt insists the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) should remain a trilateral issue between itself, Sudan, and Ethiopia as Cairo attempts to circumvent the cooperative framework agreement under the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and the involvement of all riparian nations.

Egyptian officials expressed the position during the NBI extraordinary ministerial meeting held February 21, 2025, at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa. The meeting preceded the annual Nile Day celebrations on February 22nd, which commemorate the founding of the Nile Basin Initiative.

Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, made contradicting statements during the meeting, expressing Egypt’s commitment towards a solution under the NBI umbrella while at the same time arguing that issues regarding the dam should be a tripartite matter between Cairo, Khartoum, and Addis Ababa.

“Egypt has always been a strong advocate of regional cooperation, noting its role in establishing the Nile Basin Initiative in 1999. Egypt provided financial, technical, and political contributions, strengthening NBI as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among the basin countries. But Egypt had to freeze its participation in the initiative’s technical activities in 2010 due to a shift in the decision-making mechanism, when the core principle of consensus was disregarded. The draft Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), which lacked unanimous agreement among all Nile Basin states, was opened for signature.  This development deepened divisions within the region and heightened tensions among Nile Basin countries,” said Sewilam.

– Advertisement –

As part of the Nile Day celebrations, Ethiopia invited representatives from riparian countries to a GERD site visit. The invitation was met with opposition from the Egyptian delegation.

Sewalim called on the riparian countries attending the meeting not to make the trip to Benishangul-Gumuz. He accused Ethiopia of using its role as host of the gathering to orchestrate the visit in a bid to “raise tensions among riparian countries.”

He further stated that Egypt would not accept decisions made without consensus from NBI member countries.

Habtamu Itefa, Ethiopia’s minister of Water and Energy, quickly rebuked Egypt’s claims.

“GERD was built using our own resources and know-how. This is exemplary for African states to utilize their own resources. If Egypt is not willing to visit GERD, that is their decision. But Egypt’s call for other riparian countries not to visit GERD is outright disrespect. As Africans, we are not accustomed to such disrespect. Former ministers of Sudan and Egypt have visited GERD. Egypt’s position today is unfounded accusation, baseless and disrespectful,” said Habtamu.

Egypt’s protests did not deter the delegations from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, or South Sudan from visiting the dam site. The delegation from Cairo did not make the trip.

Sources say Egypt’s call for a boycott spurred some of the delegation to take part in the tour. Senior officials from NBI member states have since called for other African countries to emulate the GERD project, while others have stated the project does not affect the flow of water, despite Egypt’s claims otherwise.

“We have executed the project despite some countries denying us financing, and even supporting extremist groups to destabilize Ethiopia. The project has created a leverage for us. We no longer go and beg other countries,” said Habtamu.

The Nile ministerial council recently decided to launch a consultative process involving seven Nile Basin countries to explore a path forward based on consensus. The countries involved are Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Egypt, Sudan, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Egypt and Sudan have refused to sign the Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA).