Egypt: Talks on dam have ended as Ethiopia only seeks to ‘solidify status quo’

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Badr Abdelatty told the UN Security Council that talks to find an amicable resolution to the possible water crises which may develop as a result of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have come to a close 13 years later as Addis Ababa begins the fifth phase of filling the reservoir.

Addressing the UNSC president yesterday, Abdelatty stressed that Cairo categorical rejects Ethiopia’s unilateral policies that violate the rules and principles of international law, considering them “a clear violation of the Declaration of Principles Agreement signed between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in 2015, and the Security Council Presidential Statement on the Renaissance Dam issued on September 15, 2021.”

He noted that the statements of the Ethiopian Prime Minister about withholding a portion of the Blue Nile water this year and completing the construction of the concrete structure of the dam are “completely unacceptable to Egypt,” adding that “these actions represent a continuation of Ethiopia’s problematic approach, which raises unrest with its neighbours and jeopardises regional stability.”

“Such policies are at odds with the aspiration of most regional countries to enhance cooperation and integration among themselves, instead of sowing seeds of strife and differences between peoples bound by ties of brotherhood and common destiny,” he added.

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Egypt, he explained, confirms “the conclusion of the negotiations paths regarding GERD after 13 years of genuine Egyptian intentions came after it became clear to everyone that Addis Ababa only seeks to prolong the negotiating cover indefinitely to solidify the status quo.”

Ethiopia’s actions, Abdelatty explained, will have “serious negative effects on the two downstream countries” – Egypt and Sudan.

“Egypt will continue to closely monitor developments, and is ready to take all measures and steps guaranteed by the United Nations Charter to defend its existence, the capabilities of its people and their interests.”

Ethiopia is building a $5 billion dam near the border with Sudan it says will provide the country with much-needed electricity and economic regeneration. Egypt believes it will restrict its access to Nile waters.

Egypt is almost entirely dependent on Nile water, receiving around 55.5 million cubic metres a year from the river, and believes that filling the dam will affect the water it needs for drinking, agriculture and electricity.

Cairo wants Ethiopia to guarantee Egypt will receive 40 billion cubic metres or more of water from the Nile. Ethiopian Irrigation Minister Seleshi Bekele said Egypt has abandoned this demand, but Egypt insists it hasn’t and issued a statement to this effect.

There is also an unresolved issue over how fast the dam will be filled, with Egypt fearing if it is filled too quickly, it could affect the electricity generated by the Aswan High Dam.