Ethiopia has once again accused Egypt of intensifying “hostile rhetoric” against the recently inaugurated Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) over the Nile river.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Energy said Egypt’s misguided policy which is derived from colonial-era mindset undermines Ethiopia’s right to use resources from the world’s longest river.
“Ethiopia’s rise cannot be reversed despite all the machinations, proxy shenanigans, and ill-conceived attempts of its adversaries,” the ministry said.
Ethiopia, which is the source of 85 percent of the Nile River and the origin of the mighty Abbay River, is on the path to prosperity, the statement added.
The ministry vowed that Ethiopia will not be pressured or cowed into abandoning its right to utilise the Nile to meet its water needs.
The accusation came after Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced that Egypt will not stand idly by in the face of what he called Ethiopia’s irresponsible approach, and will take all necessary measures to protect its interests and water security.
He made the remark at the 8th edition of “Cairo Water Week”, which kicked off under the theme: “Innovative Solutions for Climate Resilience and Water Sustainability,”
President Sisi added that Egypt clearly and firmly declares its absolute rejection of any unilateral measures taken on the Nile that disregard international norms and agreements, threaten the interests of the peoples of the basin, and undermine the foundations of justice and stability.
In response Ethiopia said its rise as a regional power is a reality that cannot be reversed ”despite all the machinations, proxy shenanigans, and ill-conceived attempts of its adversaries”.
It claimed that for decades, Ethiopia and other Nile riparian countries have engaged with Egypt in the search for a trans-boundary cooperation rooted in international law.
”Egypt has never negotiated in good faith, both during the trilateral negotiations on the first filling of the dam and the annual operation of the GERD and the negotiations for the agreement on the Nile River Basin Cooperative Framework (CFA), which is the only basin-wide treaty of the Nile River Basin”, the statement from the ministry emphasised.
“Water security can only mean equitable and reasonable utilisation of the Nile River by all riparian states,’ the statement said, adding that the dispute can only get a resolution through direct engagement with the concerned parties.
MG/as/APA