Egypt ends GERD dam negotiations with Ethiopia
Minister Hani Sewilam stated Cairo exhausted all negotiation paths over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute.
Egypt has concluded all negotiation efforts with Ethiopia regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute, according to Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam. Speaking at the Egypt Forum, Sewilam stated that Cairo exercised patience but received no response from Ethiopia that would lead to an agreement. He added that Egypt participated in negotiations and signed the 2015 Declaration of Principles to demonstrate good intentions and seek peaceful coexistence.
Sewilam explained that Ethiopia failed to implement the agreed principles, leading to ongoing disputes over dam filling and operation rules, especially during drought. He accused Ethiopia of evading signature on a balanced draft agreement, reached during Washington-hosted talks with World Bank participation, which aimed to protect water rights. The primary contention remains the lack of a binding agreement for dam management during droughts and mechanisms for data sharing.
The GERD project began in 2011, with Ethiopia asserting its right to utilize water resources for development, while Cairo demands a legally binding agreement to safeguard its water security. Sewilam also noted progress in Egypt's relations with other Nile Basin countries, with 10 of the 11 nations agreeing to reopen discussions on the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement.
Why it mattersEgypt's water security is threatened by the lack of a binding agreement on the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.