Egypt has formally urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene in escalating tensions over Ethiopia’s dam on the Blue Nile, accusing Addis Ababa of violating international law and threatening the water security of millions in downstream countries.
In a letter sent on Tuesday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, warned that Ethiopia’s recent announcement of the completion and operation of its dam in the Eastern Nile Basin was an unlawful move that undermines international norms and threatens regional stability.
“The dam remains a unilateral measure that violates international law and legitimacy,” the letter read, adding that it poses “existential risks” to Egypt and Sudan, which rely heavily on Nile waters.
The dispute centers on Ethiopia’s multi-billion-dollar dam project, which has long been a source of tension between the three Nile Basin countries. While Addis Ababa insists the project is key to its economic development and energy needs, Cairo and Khartoum argue that it endangers their vital water supplies.
Egypt stressed that despite Ethiopia’s attempts to frame the project as legitimate, the move represents “a new violation added to a long list of Ethiopian violations of international law.” The letter recalled a UN Security Council statement from September 2021 that urged cooperation and dialogue among the Nile Basin nations.
Dr. Abdel Aati underscored Egypt’s firm position against recognizing unilateral measures on the Nile. “We reject all unilateral Ethiopian actions on the Nile River and will not accept their consequences on the existential interests of our people,” he said.
The Foreign Ministry said Cairo has shown restraint since Ethiopia’s unilateral launch of the project years ago, opting for diplomacy and multilateral dialogue instead of confrontation.
Egypt argues that its position is not about resisting Ethiopia’s development but about ensuring that projects in the Eastern Nile Basin are conducted in line with international law and with fair consideration for all riparian states.
By contrast, the ministry accused Addis Ababa of adopting “intransigent positions” and attempting to impose a fait accompli, mobilizing public opinion with “false claims about sovereignty over the Nile River.”
For Egypt, a desert nation that depends on the Nile for more than 90% of its freshwater needs, the stakes could not be higher. Any disruption to water flows, Cairo argues, could have devastating consequences for its population, agriculture, and economy.
“Any misconceptions that Cairo might turn a blind eye to its existential interests in the Nile River are pure illusions,” the ministry said. Egypt emphasized that it would not allow Ethiopia to “unilaterally dominate the management of water resources.”
The statement further noted that Egypt reserves the right to take all measures permitted under international law and the UN Charter to defend its water security.
The standoff over the Nile waters is not just a bilateral issue between Egypt and Ethiopia. Sudan, which also depends heavily on the river, has raised similar concerns about water flow disruptions and dam safety.
International organizations, including the African Union and the United Nations, have previously tried to mediate, though talks have often stalled. Cairo’s latest appeal to the Security Council signals a renewed push to internationalize the dispute.
Egypt maintains that cooperation among Nile Basin countries is possible if based on transparency, international law, and mutual respect. “Our position stems from a firm conviction in the importance of strengthening cooperation and achieving the common interest among the peoples of the Nile Basin,” the ministry noted.
But with Addis Ababa pressing ahead with the project and Egypt escalating its complaints to the highest international body, the dispute shows no signs of resolution.
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