CAIRO – 14 August 2025: Egypt reiterated its firm rejection of any unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin that violate international law in a joint statement by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources on Thursday.
“Egypt continues to monitor developments closely and will take all measures permitted under international law to protect the existential resources of its people,” the statement read, citing Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam as saying during today’s meeting.
They reiterated Egypt’s firm commitment to cooperation and mutual benefit with all Nile Basin countries.
The ministers emphasized that safeguarding Egypt’s water security does not come at the expense of the developmental aspirations of sister nations in the basin.
They noted that such balance can be achieved through full adherence to the principles of international law governing Transboundary Rivers, calling for continued cooperation for mutual benefit based on those legal frameworks.
‘Existential Threat’
Their remarks come as Ethiopia is preparing to officially inaugurate its 74 billion cubic meter Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in September despite longstanding objection by Egypt and Sudan, the downstream countries.
Ethiopia has continued filling and operating the dam over the past years, brushed aside demands by Egypt and Sudan to reach a written agreement first to secure their water interests.
Egypt has repeatedly warned that the filling and operation of the dam with the absence of a clear legally-binding agreement is an “existential threat” with the country relying on the Nile for over 98 percent of its water supply.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia has claimed that the dam will not harm the water shares of the downstream countries and will also benefit them.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi this week affirmed Egypt's complete rejection of unilateral measures in the Eastern Nile Basin, emphasizing that anyone who believes Egypt will turn a blind eye to its water rights is "mistaken."
During a joint press conference with Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Sisi stated that “we will continue to monitor the situation and take all measures permitted under international law to safeguard our people’s existential resources.”
Sisi stressed that Egypt does not oppose any development for our partners in the Nile Basin countries, but Egypt's only concern is that this development does not affect the nation’s water share.
Egypt and Sudan have so far failed to persuade Ethiopia to ink a legally-binding agreement regarding the GERD through more than a decade of negotiations. Cairo has blamed Addis Ababa of “lacking the political will” required to reach a solution.
Last week, Egypt and Sudan issued a joint statement, reaffirming their rejection of Ethiopia’s unilateral actions on the Blue Nile.
Supporting Africa’s Development
The ministers reviewed Egypt’s support to development projects in the field of irrigation and water resources in several African countries.
They discussed the implementation of upcoming projects led by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, including the planned MBANKANA 1 hydropower dam project in the DR Congo, set to be funded through Egypt’s new infrastructure financing mechanism for southern Nile Basin countries.
The Egyptian financing mechanism was launched with an initial budget of $100 million to study and implement developmental and infrastructure projects—including dams—in the southern Nile Basin states.
Abdelatty and Sewilam explored opportunities for implementing new joint development projects in the southern Nile Basin, building on previous successful projects and training programs implemented in Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, DR Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The two ministers reaffirmed Egypt’s historic and continued support for development efforts in the Nile Basin states—particularly the southern basin countries.
Thu, Aug. 14, 2025
