Cairo: Egypt "will not allow" Ethiopia to build new dams on the Nile River, Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam has said amid a long-running dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Sewilam's remarks surfaced around two weeks after reports indicated Ethiopia's plans to construct three additional dams alongside the GERD.
According to TRTworld.com, Sewilam stated at a press conference in Cairo, as reported by local media, that it is widely acknowledged Ethiopia has plans for new dams. However, he emphasized that Egypt would not permit these developments. He underscored Egypt's consistent calls for a clear and legally binding mechanism for exchanging operational data on the GERD. This information is crucial for downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, to understand expected water releases and annual operating plans effectively.
The absence of such data, Sewilam highlighted, places Sudan in a precarious position, preventing effective management of their own dams or water storage without accurate information on water releases from Ethiopia. He asserted that Sudan should not be held accountable for any disruptions in water management under these circumstances, placing responsibility on Ethiopia for not agreeing to a legally binding data-sharing mechanism with the downstream countries.
The minister reiterated Egypt's commitment to achieving a legally binding agreement on the GERD's filling and operation, ensuring regular data exchanges. This would safeguard the interests of all involved parties and reduce risks associated with managing shared water resources. There has been no immediate response from Ethiopia regarding the Egyptian minister's statements.
The longstanding dispute involves Egypt and Sudan's insistence on a legally binding trilateral agreement before the GERD project becomes fully operational, in contrast to Ethiopia's stance that such an agreement is unnecessary and that the dam poses no harm to downstream interests. The disagreement led to a three-year suspension of negotiations, which resumed in 2023 but stalled again in 2024. The Nile River, a vital waterway shared by 11 countries, remains central to this ongoing regional conflict.