Egypt and Ethiopia trade barbs over Nile waters and GERD operations

Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia have flared once again following a new exchange of accusations over the management of the Nile River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The dispute, which has simmered for more than a decade, was reignited after recent flooding in northern Egypt displaced residents and fueled claims of unilateral water releases from Ethiopia’s newly inaugurated mega-dam.

The latest escalation follows comments by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on October 12 during Cairo Water Week, where he described water as an “existential issue” for Egypt’s more than 100 million citizens, nearly all of whom depend on the Nile for freshwater.

“Egypt faces significant challenges in the water sector,” El-Sisi said. “Our annual rainfall does not exceed 1.3 billion cubic meters, while the per capita share amounts to about 500 cubic meters — half the global water poverty line.”

El-Sisi said Egypt was promoting “cooperation” citing development projects in African countries such as solar-powered groundwater wells and rainwater harvesting systems. But he warned that “unilateral measures” on the Nile threatened the stability of the entire basin.

“International rivers were not created to be lines that separate nations, but rather throbbing lifelines for integration,” he said. “Egypt clearly and firmly declares its absolute rejection of any unilateral measures taken on the Nile River that disregard international norms and agreements.”

El-Sisi’s remarks came days after severe flooding struck parts of northern Egypt, particularly the Nile Delta village of Dalhamo, where residents used boats to navigate submerged streets. The floods also damaged farmland across several provinces, Reuters reported.

Egyptian officials attributed the surge to unusually high seasonal flows from the Ethiopian Highlands, accusing Ethiopia of “reckless unilateral” conduct — a charge that Addis Ababa denied. Sudan also reported significant damage, with more than 1,200 families displaced.

In a statement released on October 13, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Energy accused Egypt of “intensifying its hostile rhetoric” and clinging to “colonial-era” claims over the Nile.

“Egypt’s skewed interpretation of African solidarity is evident,” the ministry said, referring to Cairo’s portrayal of development projects in other African countries. “In this limited view of solidarity, Nile Basin countries are recipients of symbolic Egyptian assistance — a water well here, a solar panel there.”

The statement dismissed Egypt’s claims as “outdated and insufficient,” arguing that true solidarity meant recognizing all riparian nations’ right to fair and equitable use of the river.

“Ethiopia, the source of 85 percent of the Nile’s waters, will not be pressured or cowed into abandoning its right to utilize the river,” the ministry said. “Ethiopia’s rise is a reality that cannot be reversed despite the machinations and ill-conceived attempts of its adversaries.”

Ethiopia accused Egypt of negotiating in bad faith during talks over the GERD’s operation and the broader Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), describing Cairo’s stance as “hegemonic” and rooted in outdated treaties dating back to the colonial period.

The $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, inaugurated on September 9, sits on the Blue Nile near Ethiopia’s border with Sudan. Designed to generate 5,150 megawatts of electricity and store 74 billion cubic meters of water, it is Africa’s largest hydroelectric project.

Addis Ababa insists the dam will not harm downstream nations and says it upholds international standards in its operation. The Ethiopian government highlighted its Green Legacy Initiative, an afforestation campaign it says contributes to sustainable water management.

Cairo, however, remains deeply concerned that the GERD could reduce its vital water supply. It argues that Ethiopia’s unilateral filling and operation of the reservoir violate international norms and pose a threat to Egypt’s water security and agriculture.

Years of negotiations — facilitated by the African Union, the United States, and the World Bank — have failed to produce a binding agreement governing the GERD’s operation. Egypt continues to demand legal guarantees over water flows, while Ethiopia maintains that the dam is a sovereign project essential for its economic progress.

Despite more than a decade of African Union and international mediation, no binding legal agreement has been achieved. Egypt continues to defend its “historic rights” to the river, citing the Nile as its lifeline, while Ethiopia refuses to entertain that claim — a point that remains at the heart of the long-running dispute.