Egypt says Nile issue is existential, rejects Ethiopia’s unilateral moves

CAIRO – Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the Nile water issue was an “existential” matter for Egypt, warning that Cairo would reject any unilateral steps by Ethiopia over its massive dam project that could threaten the interests of downstream countries.

In an interview with Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, Abdelatty said Egypt and Sudan had still not received technical studies on the safety standards of the Ethiopian dam or its environmental impact, arguing that unilateral actions by an upstream country violated international rules governing shared rivers.

“The Nile water issue is an existential matter for Egypt,” Abdelatty said, stressing that Cairo opposed any measures taken without agreement among the countries sharing the river.

He accused Ethiopia of having operated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) unilaterally and for political purposes, saying such actions had created risks for downstream states.

“Ethiopia has the right to development, but this right should not come at the expense of the rights of downstream countries,” Abdelatty said. “Ethiopia has the right to development, and we have the right to life.”

Egypt has long opposed Ethiopia’s management of the dam, fearing that rapid filling or operation decisions could reduce water flows from the Nile, on which it relies heavily for agriculture, industry and drinking water.

The dispute centres on the $4.2 billion GERD project on the Blue Nile, Ethiopia’s largest hydroelectric undertaking, which Addis Ababa says is essential for economic development and electricity generation.

Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly called for a legally binding agreement regulating the filling and operation of the dam, while Ethiopia has argued that the project does not significantly harm downstream countries.

Abdelatty said Egypt supported Ethiopia’s development aspirations but insisted that cooperation must be based on international law and mutual agreement.

He also accused Ethiopia’s previous unilateral dam operations of contributing to serious consequences for Sudan, including flooding that affected areas in downstream countries.

Turning to regional issues, Abdelatty said Egypt remained deeply engaged in efforts to resolve Libya’s political crisis, stressing the importance of unifying Libyan institutions, particularly the military establishment.

He said Cairo was supporting initiatives aimed at advancing an inclusive political process involving all Libyan parties, with the goal of holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections that reflect the aspirations of the Libyan people.

Abdelatty said he had discussed Libya with US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos and reiterated Egypt’s support for initiatives designed to restore stability in the country.

On the Palestinian issue, Egypt’s foreign minister said the conflict remained “at the heart” of instability in the region, warning that lasting peace could not be achieved without a fair solution for Palestinians.

“The use of force will not achieve security or stability,” Abdelatty said, adding that the only path forward was through implementation of a two-state solution.

He said Egypt supported US President Donald Trump’s peace plan and was continuing efforts to ensure the implementation of commitments under the first phase of an agreement and move towards negotiations on a second phase.

Abdelatty expressed confidence that Trump could help advance efforts towards peace, while stressing the importance of completing outstanding commitments, including issues related to Israeli withdrawal and security arrangements.

He said negotiations hosted by Egypt on the issue of weapons control had made progress, adding that Cairo was continuing work to support the full implementation of the proposed framework.

Egypt, he said, was relying on Washington’s role in supporting the process and helping move the region towards a broader peace settlement.