Egyptian Minister of Irrigation: Ethiopia's Dam is Illegal and the 2105 Declaration is Not Final

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Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Suwailem affirmed his country's rejection of the legitimacy of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in its current form, warning Addis Ababa against taking additional unilateral steps that could harm the rights of the peoples of the Nile Basin countries.

Suwailem explained, in exclusive statements to "Al-Arabiya.net" and "Al-Hadath.net", that Egypt's signing in 2015 was on a "Declaration of Principles" that outlines a framework for cooperation and a roadmap to reach an agreement on the filling and operation of the dam, and it was not a final agreement that regulates the operational rules, noting that the Ethiopian side has not implemented any of the provisions of this declaration.

He added that the complete absence of a mechanism for coordination and data exchange has indeed caused damages to Egypt and Sudan, citing a sudden event in which Ethiopia released massive amounts of water that nearly led to the destruction of Sudanese dams.

The minister emphasized that the size of the Ethiopian dam and its storage capacity make it impossible to accept it without reaching a binding legal agreement governing the rules of filling and operation, affirming that this issue has not and will not end, and that the Egyptian state apparatus is in a state of complete and continuous vigilance to protect citizens from any water-related damages.

Dr. Suwailem responded to the Ethiopian claims regarding ownership of the river and absolute sovereignty over it, saying, "The Ethiopian talk about a sovereign right over the Nile is unacceptable. How can one imagine building a dam on a shared international river and acting as if maintaining it is an exception or a favor from one party?" He added, "This is incorrect logic and is not recognized by international law, which obliges all parties."

He explained that "citizens in Ethiopia need legal education to clarify the fundamental difference between building a domestic dam on a local river subject to full sovereignty, and building a dam on an international river shared by ten countries."

The Minister of Irrigation announced that Egypt will not allow Ethiopia to monopolize or control the key to life for Egyptians, adding: "We do not call for violence, but we advocate for cooperation and activating options for peace and benefiting from the multiple energy sources provided by the Nile Basin," emphasizing that Egypt's option is not to manage the Ethiopian dam but to establish the foundations of institutional legal cooperation.

Suwailem denied the accusations directed at Cairo of opposing development projects in Africa, pointing out that Egypt had previously approved several projects within Ethiopia itself and in Uganda, confirming the recent official approval for the construction of the "Fula" dam in South Sudan.

He also clarified that the Egyptian decision regarding the "Fula" dam came after conducting precise hydrological studies that proved its water impacts are acceptable and manageable, which demonstrates Egypt's supportive stance towards development.

The Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis remains one of the most complex issues in the Nile Basin and the Middle East.

Egypt fears that the unilateral filling and operation of the dam's reservoir will reduce its share and threaten its water and food security, as well as the future of millions of farmers, in addition to affecting the High Dam's ability to generate electricity and store water. Sudan is also concerned about the safety of its operational dams and facilities.

Cairo and Khartoum demand a comprehensive agreement with Addis Ababa that regulates the mechanisms for filling and operating the dam during periods of drought and prolonged drought, along with establishing a clear dispute resolution mechanism. Meanwhile, Ethiopia insists on its right to unilaterally exploit its resources and considers developmental projects purely sovereign, continuing the successive filling phases without final coordination with the downstream countries, leaving the issue open to multiple possibilities that affect the stability of the entire region.