Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reiterated his country’s support for development projects in Nile Basin countries while firmly rejecting any unilateral measures by Ethiopia that could harm Egypt’s water interests, during a phone call with Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday.
El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt will not accept any actions that affect its Nile water rights, amid ongoing tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a $5 billion project inaugurated by Ethiopia last September. The dam, capable of holding up to 74 billion cubic meters of water, has been a source of dispute as Egypt and Sudan call for a legally binding agreement to safeguard downstream water supplies and populations.
Ruto expressed Kenya’s commitment to promoting regional cooperation and economic integration among Nile Basin countries, and thanked Egypt for its support across various development sectors.
The Egyptian Water Resources Ministry in October blamed Ethiopia for sudden, uncoordinated releases from the GERD, which it said caused “man-made floods” in Sudan and threatened the lives and resources of communities in both downstream nations.
Egypt and Sudan have consistently called on Ethiopia to coordinate the dam’s operations to prevent harm, while Addis Ababa maintains that the project is crucial for its energy needs and regional development.
