Egypt criticizes Ethiopia for including GERD in Nile Day celebrations, viewing it as a unilateral move that disregards the rights of downstream nations. Tensions over water rights have persisted for over a decade, with Minister Sewilam emphasizing Egypt’s reliance on the Nile and the need for collaborative management. The legal implications of recent agreements further complicate the situation, highlighting the need for genuine dialogue among Nile Basin states.
Egypt has condemned Ethiopia’s inclusion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the Nile Day celebrations, accusing Ethiopia of pursuing unilateralism and bypassing discussions with downstream nations. This tension arises from the long-standing conflict over the dam’s construction and its implications for Egypt’s water supply from the Nile, a situation persisting for over a decade with no resolution in sight.
The 19th Nile Day event, organized by the Nile Basin Initiative and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Energy, took place on February 22 in Addis Ababa. It attracted high-ranking officials, diplomats, and experts from Nile Basin countries who discussed collaborative development and water resource management.
Tensions escalated during the event when ministers and journalists from several riparian states visited the GERD as part of the celebration. This included water ministers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, alongside representatives from various media outlets, highlighting concerns over Ethiopia’s actions.
Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam criticized Ethiopia’s actions, indicating they undermine cooperative management of the Nile. He emphasized the need for true collaboration rather than using Nile Day as a political instrument.
Sewilam reiterated Egypt’s situation as one of extreme water scarcity, relying entirely on the Nile, and warned that unilateral actions jeopardize regional cooperation and threaten Egypt’s rights to essential water resources. He stressed the importance of prior consultations, environmental assessments, and legal agreements under international law.
Officials from Egypt express concern that Ethiopia’s strategy — showcased during Nile Day — aimed to gather regional support for the dam without addressing the legitimate worries of downstream nations. Amidst this tension, Sewilam affirmed Egypt’s commitment to dialogue within the Nile Basin.
He endorsed the Nile Council of Ministers’ decision to initiate consultations involving Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, in addition to Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, and Sudan, to seek solutions addressing the Nile’s shared usage.
From a legal perspective, Professor Ayman Salama noted that international treaties regarding transboundary rivers typically mandate joint management and coordination. The examples such as the 1995 Mekong River Agreement and the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement demonstrate a collaborative approach that Egypt fears is absent under the recent agreements.
Salama warned that the 2010 Entebbe Agreement lacks mechanisms for effective coordination and allows upstream nations to pursue project developments without Egypt’s approval, further complicating the governance of Nile waters.
The underlying conflict stems from this agreement revoking historical rights from a 1929 treaty that granted Egypt oversight over projects impacting the Nile’s flow. Salama cautioned that failing to provide a balanced alternative could heighten tensions in the basin.
Experts have cautioned that the attendance of various ministers at the GERD could be interpreted as implicit support for Ethiopia’s unilateral initiatives, despite Egypt’s protests. Professor Mohamed Hafez remarked on the lack of vocal opposition from participating ministers regarding the dam’s implications and noted past Egyptian officials’ visits to the GERD, indicating a duality in Egypt’s stance on the project.
In summary, Egypt’s condemnation of Ethiopia’s actions regarding the GERD and recent Nile Day celebrations highlights ongoing tensions over water rights and management in the Nile Basin. Minister Hani Sewilam warns that unilateral actions impair regional cooperation and threaten Egypt’s vital water supply. The situation reflects broader legal and political challenges, particularly the implications of recent agreements that lack structures for effective collaboration among Nile Basin states. Without addressing these fundamental issues, achieving a sustainable resolution appears increasingly unlikely.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
