Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has firmly stated that Egypt will not concede its water rights in the ongoing dispute over the Nile River with Ethiopia. He warned that any assumption that Egypt would overlook its entitlements is misguided.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Sisi emphasized during a joint press conference with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Cairo that the Nile River's water flow is a crucial lifeline for Egypt. He explained that the White and Blue Nile tributaries together yield about 1,600 billion cubic meters of water annually. However, a significant portion is lost due to natural factors such as forests, swamps, evaporation, and groundwater absorption. Consequently, only a small fraction of this total reaches the Nile, with Egypt and Sudan collectively receiving approximately 85 billion cubic meters, which is merely 4 percent of the overall flow.

President Sisi underscored the critical importance of this water share to Egypt, stating that forfeiting it would be tantamount to giving up the country's lifeline, as Egypt lacks alternative water resources and experiences scant rainfall. He acknowledged the potential benefits of Nile waters for neighboring countries in areas like agriculture and electricity generation but insisted that such development should not compromise the water volume reaching Egypt.

He further described the Nile water issue as part of a broader campaign of pressure against Egypt, aimed at advancing unrelated agendas. Egypt, he stated, firmly opposes any interference or destructive actions, prioritizing instead construction, development, and unity across the continent.

The backdrop to President Sisi's statements is the recent completion of a massive dam project on the Blue Nile by Ethiopia, which was finalized in early July and is slated for official inauguration in September. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), under construction since 2011, has been a focal point of diplomatic conflict between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. Egypt fears the dam will reduce water flows, impacting its share of the Nile.

Despite persistent negotiations facilitated by the African Union and international mediators, the three nations have yet to reach a binding agreement on long-term water management strategies.