The situation between Egypt and Ethiopia regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) continues to raise concerns. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam recently expressed Egypt’s views on the issue, saying the country is closely monitoring Ethiopia’s unilateral measures regarding the GERD.
In a press release, the minister warned Ethiopia against undermining Egypt’s water security, saying that Egyptian state institutions would not allow it. He also pointed out that Ethiopia decided to deduct 26 billion cubic meters of water from the Nile during the fourth filling of the dam, which poses a serious problem for Egypt.
According to Sewilam, Egypt opened the way for negotiations with Ethiopia, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement after 12 years of discussions regarding the filling and operation of the dam. Additionally, the minister noted that there is insufficient information on the final details of the GERD design, raising legitimate concerns about its safety.
Sewilam warned that the collapse of the GERD would lead to the destruction of Sudan’s dams, which would have a huge impact on the 150 million people living in Egypt and Sudan. He also revealed that Egypt had not accepted the terms related to the filling of the dam, accusing Ethiopia of including other issues in the negotiations in a bid to dominate the Blue Nile.
Despite multiple requests from Egypt and Sudan, Ethiopia continues to fill the GERD without an agreement being reached regarding the rules for filling and exploitation. Egypt views the dam as an existential threat, given that it relies 97% on the Nile for its water needs. Faced with increasing water demand and high rates of water deficit, Egypt is investing in agricultural wastewater treatment projects to cover this deficit in new agricultural reclamation areas.
This impasse in negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia highlights the urgency of a fair solution that protects the interests of all countries involved. The GERD issue must be resolved diplomatically, promoting transparent discussions and emphasizing regional cooperation to ensure long-term water security in the region.