Ankara: Egypt 'will not allow' Ethiopia to build new dams on the Nile River, Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam declared Tuesday amid a long-running dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
According to Anadolu Agency, Sewilam's remarks came about two weeks after media reports suggested Ethiopia is planning to build three additional dams on the Nile alongside the GERD, although Addis Ababa has not officially commented on these reports. Sewilam, speaking at a press conference in Cairo as cited by local media, emphasized that while Ethiopia has plans for new dams, Egypt will not permit their construction.
Sewilam stressed Egypt's repeated calls for a clear and legally binding mechanism for exchanging operational data on the GERD. This mechanism would enable downstream countries Egypt and Sudan to understand the expected water releases and annual operating plans. The absence of such information places Sudan in a difficult position, preventing effective operation of its own dams or managing water storage due to the lack of accurate data on water release volumes and timing from Ethiopia.
'Sudan should not be blamed for any disruption in water management under such circumstances,' Sewilam added, pointing to Ethiopia's refusal to commit to a legally binding mechanism for data sharing and coordination with downstream countries as the source of responsibility.
The minister reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to reaching a legally binding agreement governing the filling and operation of the GERD, ensuring regular data exchange to safeguard the interests of all parties and reduce risks associated with managing shared water resources. There was no immediate Ethiopian comment on the Egyptian minister's remarks.
Egypt and Sudan have long been at odds with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the GERD, which began construction in 2011. Cairo and Khartoum insist on a legally binding trilateral agreement before the project is fully operated. Ethiopia, however, argues that such an agreement is unnecessary and assures that the dam will not harm downstream countries' interests. The dispute led to a three-year suspension of negotiations before talks resumed in 2023, only to stall again in 2024.
The Nile River, stretching about 6,650 kilometers (4,132 miles), is shared by 11 countries: Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.