Sisi on Ethiopian Dam: Egypt’s Water Security Is Not Negotiable
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said Cairo remains committed to diplomacy over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam but stressed that Egypt would not compromise on its water security.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi issued fresh remarks on the long-running dispute surrounding Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile.
Sisi said Egypt continues to favour diplomatic and peaceful solutions but would not accept an outcome that threatens the country’s vital water needs.
Cairo has repeatedly described access to Nile water as a matter of national security.
The Egyptian president also highlighted efforts to diversify the country’s water resources through seawater desalination, wastewater reuse and modern water-management projects.
The main points of disagreement between Ethiopia and Egypt include the operation of the dam, water releases during prolonged droughts and whether the parties should sign a legally binding agreement governing the project.