UPDATE - Egypt, Sudan say Ethiopian Nile dam represents ‘threat’

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By Hussien Elkabany and Rania Abu Shamala

CAIRO/ISTANBUL (AA) – Egypt and Sudan on Wednesday called an Ethiopian dam built by Addis Ababa on the Nile River a “threat” to the two countries.

It came in a statement following talks in Cairo between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Irrigation Minister Hani Sweilam and a Sudanese delegation led by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Sediq.

“The consultations addressed developments regarding the Ethiopian dam, and both parties agreed that the Ethiopian dam, which violates international law, has serious consequences for the downstream countries and represents a continuous threat to stability in the Eastern Nile Basin under international law,” it said.

The statement came one day after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed affirmed his country’s desire to work with Egypt and Sudan on the Ethiopian Dam, stressing that now that the dam is complete, it ensures a steady flow of water throughout the year to the two downstream countries, prevents floods and has not caused them any harm.

It also comes amid disputes between Egypt and Sudan on one side, and Ethiopia on the other, about the filling and operation of the dam, construction of which began in 2011. Cairo and Khartoum insist on reaching a binding trilateral legal agreement on its filling and operation.

Ethiopia, however, maintains that no such agreement is necessary, reiterating that it does not intend to harm the interests of any country. The dispute led to a three-year suspension of negotiations before talks resumed in 2023, only to stall in 2024.

The two sides stressed that “the water security of Sudan and Egypt is one and indivisible,” and reaffirmed their rejection of unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin that could harm their water interests.

They emphasized the need to “strengthen consultation and coordination and continue their joint efforts to work with Nile Basin Initiative countries to restore consensus.”

The statement highlighted “serious risks posed by Ethiopia’s unilateral steps to fill and operate the dam, those related to dam safety, uncontrolled water discharges, and dealing with drought conditions.”

“Ethiopia must change its policy in the Eastern Nile Basin, as the issue of the Ethiopian dam remains a matter among the three countries (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia), and we reject any attempts to involve other basin countries in this dispute,” it said.

The Nile River, which runs for 6,650 kilometers (4,132 miles), is shared by 11 countries: Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.

-Attempts to undermine Sudan’s unity rejected

Egypt reiterated its “total rejection of all attempts to threaten Sudan’s unity, national institutions, or sovereignty.”

The statement came from Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty during talks in Cairo with Sudanese Minister of State Omar Siddiq, the Foreign Ministry said.

Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s support for regional and international efforts to resolve the crisis through a Sudanese-owned political process leading to a cease-fire and an end to the conflict.