Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi took a veiled dig at Ethiopia this week, declaring that his country will never give up its water rights, cautioning against any unilateral actions that could compromise Egypt’s share of the Nile River.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo with his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, the President declared that Egypt will not abandon its water resources and is prepared to use all necessary measures guaranteed under international law.

The president’s remarks came as part of a broader discussion on fostering cooperation and development within the Nile Basin, while ensuring that such initiatives do not adversely affect Egypt’s access to its essential water supply.

After years of failed trilateral negotiation to produce a binding legal agreement on the rules of filling and operating the dam, reports indicate that downstream countries Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly voiced their concern over their water shares following the construction of GERD.

According to El-Sisi, his country firmly “rejects any unilateral actions” taken in the Eastern Nile Basin.

“The Nile Basin Initiative is a source of cooperation, not conflict,” he said. “Mistaken is he who deludes himself into thinking that Egypt will turn a blind eye to an existential threat to its water security.”

He added that Cairo will continue to “monitor” and “take all measures” guaranteed by international law to preserve the existential resources of his people.

“Our stance has been clear from the beginning. We are not against the development of our partners and brothers in the Nile Basin countries and this development should not affect the volume or share of water that reaches Egypt,” said El-Sisi

The president claimed that Egypt and Sudan combined only receive four percent of the Nile’s annual flow of 1,600 billion cubic meters.

“The issue among Nile Basin countries must be based on the necessity of enhancing efforts to achieve mutual benefit, joint action to preserve and develop this vital resource, and cooperation within the format of considering the interests of all without causing harm,” he said, asserting that the Nile Basin initiative is the key to restore inclusivity and consensus among the basin countries with mutual benefit.

Even in its final phase of completion, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) remains a point of contention between Ethiopia and the two downstream nations, Egypt and Sudan.

However, in response to the existing concerns, Ethiopia has attempted to ease fears by stating that the dam represents a shared opportunity.

This week, at the 4th AFRIRUN conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos (PhD) stated that the GERD is more than just a project; it is a regional asset, a catalyst for deeper integration, and a beacon of sustainable development.

He added that Ethiopia affirms its commitment to contributing meaningfully to a shared vision of regional development through investments in renewable energy, particularly hydropower.

“Ethiopia aims to serve as a reliable supplier of clean and renewable energy to neighbouring states,” he said, adding that the dam currently exports electricity to Djibouti, Sudan, and Kenya, with plans to extend supply to Tanzania, Somalia, and South Sudan.

Last month, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), announced the dam was scheduled for inauguration at the end of the rainy season, likely some time next month. He extended an invitation to the leaders of Sudan and Egypt to attend the inauguration ceremony.

However, both countries swiftly declined the invitation and have continued to voice their objections. The Ethiopian government has not yet issued an official comment to El-Sisi’s latest statement.

Meanwhile, a statement from the National Movement of Amhara (NaMA) opposition party affirms Ethiopia’s right to utilize the Nile River for its national development and regional stability. The statement emphasizes that projects like the GERD are not only legitimate but also crucial for Ethiopia’s economic progress and energy security.

The party accused Egypt of unjustly obstructing Ethiopia’s development aspirations, labeling its claims to sole rights over the river’s resources as “archaic” and an example of an “exclusionary colonial-era mentality.”

The statement further alleges that Egypt has consistently posed a security threat to Ethiopia to prevent its development on the Nile, highlighting that Ethiopia will not be held hostage by what the party describes as Egypt’s “outdated, unjust, and baseless claims” over the Nile.

“Egypt has actively engaged in fuelling internal conflicts and promoting secessionist movements, but this cannot constrain Ethiopia,” reads the statement.

Upon inauguration, the dam will enable Ethiopia to more than double its annual electricity output of around 5,000 megawatts.