Egypt: 3 Countries Agreed to Amend the Entebbe Agreement.. and Ethiopia Alone Refused

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Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Suweil announced that 3 countries from the Nile Basin agreed to conduct a study in preparation for dialogue regarding the amendment of the Entebbe Agreement, aiming to address the concerns and reservations associated with it, confirming that Ethiopia was the only country that rejected this approach and refrained from continuing consultations.

During a press conference held today, Sunday, at the General Authority for Information, Suweil stated that Addis Ababa objected to efforts aimed at enhancing cooperation and showed no willingness to discuss amending the agreement, while other countries expressed their readiness for dialogue and seeking consensual solutions.

He also rejected what he described as repeated Ethiopian claims regarding Egypt's acquisition of the 'lion's share' of Nile waters, explaining that his country's share of 55.5 billion cubic meters represents only about 2.7% of the total river yield. He affirmed that Ethiopia possesses abundant water resources that exceed its actual needs, emphasizing that international water law represents the basic reference for regulating cooperation among the basin countries, and that stability in the region will not be achieved as long as unilateral actions continue.

He also added that his country's concerns stem from unilateral practices that do not consider the interests of about 120 million Egyptians who rely on Nile waters, while denying at the same time Cairo's opposition to development projects or the construction of dams in the basin countries as long as they do not harm its water interests.

Sweilem pointed out that Egypt has contributed to the implementation of several water projects in the basin countries, including the Jebel Awliya Dam in Sudan and the Julius Nyerere Dam in Tanzania. He also announced Egypt's approval to establish the "Fula" Dam in South Sudan, provided it does not harm its water interests.

He also confirmed that the Nile waters are sufficient for everyone if managed properly, noting that Egypt has provided more than 365 water stations in support of the basin countries and is currently working on establishing flood forecasting centers in both Congo and Sudan.

He further indicated that Egypt relies on the Nile River to provide about 98% of its water needs, stating: "Without the Nile, there is no Egypt," which explains the strategic importance of the river to the country. He warned of the worsening water scarcity crisis due to climate change and rapid population growth, pointing out that the average per capita share of water in Egypt is less than 500 cubic meters annually, compared to the global water poverty line of 1,000 cubic meters.

Sweilem added that about 120 million people, including 109 million citizens and 11 million refugees and migrants, share the available water resources in Egypt, which imposes significant pressures on food needs and drives the country to import large quantities of essential goods, making it the largest wheat importer in the world.

He also warned against complete reliance on groundwater, emphasizing that it is a non-renewable resource that may deplete over time if not managed sustainably.

While emphasizing the importance of governing water resources and raising awareness about consumption rationalization, he confirmed that the authorities will deal firmly with any encroachments on the Nile's course, and that any illegal structure or facility on the river will be removed.

It is worth noting that the Entebbe Agreement was concluded in 2010, establishing a legal framework to regulate relations between Nile Basin countries and resolve disputes among them. It also stipulates the redistribution of water shares and grants upstream countries the right to implement water projects without requiring the consent of downstream countries, which is rejected by both Egypt and Sudan.

The agreement has been signed by six countries: Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and South Sudan.

Egypt had refused to sign the agreement, considering that it does not comply with the rules of international law governing transboundary rivers and does not preserve its historical rights to the waters of the Nile.