Egypt Stands Firm: Nile Is Ours to Share, Not Ethiopia's to Control

In a resolute and principled response, Egypt has rejected recent statements by Ethiopia's Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Itefa, who suggested that Addis Ababa could 'control' the flow of the Nile River to downstream nations. The Egyptian stance, delivered through an official source and reported by MENA, reaffirms Cairo's unwavering commitment to international law and the shared heritage of the Nile.

The source described Ethiopia's remarks as a dangerous escalation of its unilateral approach, a blatant violation of the fundamental principles that govern shared international waterways. 'The Nile does not belong to any single state,' the source emphasized, 'and no nation has the right to impose its will on a river that is the lifeblood of millions across the region.'

Ethiopia's continued delusions of hegemony over the Nile, the source added, undermine its own claims of pursuing development without harming its neighbors. The explicit intention to 'control' water flows is not a legitimate development goal; it is an attempt to impose a fait accompli, monopolize a shared resource, and exploit geography to threaten the water rights of Egypt and Sudan.

What is Egypt's position on Ethiopia's Nile dam plans?

Egypt's position is clear and unyielding: the country will not accept any unilateral actions that threaten its water security. The official source stressed that Egypt has multiple and diverse means to defend the interests of its people, and it will not allow any party to dictate the fate of the Nile. This stance is rooted in established international law, which obliges states to avoid causing harm, consult in good faith, and respect the rights of all Nile Basin countries.

The source also recalled Egypt's letters to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in which Cairo affirmed its readiness to take all measures available under international law to protect its people's rights to the Nile. 'We will not stand idle while others seek to rewrite the rules of our shared river,' the source said.

Why is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) still a point of contention?

The latest dispute is part of the long-running impasse over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia formally inaugurated in September 2025. The dam, with a reservoir capacity of 74 billion cubic metres and an installed capacity of 5,150 megawatts, was filled in five stages between 2020 and 2024, without a binding operating agreement with Egypt and Sudan.

Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly warned that the absence of agreed operating rules and regular data exchange exposes them to sudden water shortages or uncontrolled releases. The Egyptian source reiterated that the Nile is a shared international river, and its management must reflect the interests of all riparian states, not the ambitions of one.

What is the Entebbe Agreement, and why does Egypt reject it?

Ethiopia also cited the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement, known as the Entebbe Agreement, which entered into force in October 2024 after ratification by six upstream countries. Egypt and Sudan did not sign the agreement and maintain that it is not binding on them, nor can it affect their established water rights. The agreement does not allocate specific water shares but sets out principles on equitable use, preventing significant harm, and exchanging data.

Egypt's official source dismissed the agreement as an instrument that cannot override historical rights and the principles of international law. 'The Entebbe Agreement cannot be used as a cover for unilateral actions,' the source said, 'and Egypt will continue to defend its rights with all means at its disposal.'

How does Egypt view the future of Nile cooperation?

Egypt remains committed to cooperation and dialogue, but only on the basis of mutual respect and adherence to international law. The official source affirmed that the Nile River does not belong to any particular country, and notions of 'control' or unilateral regulation are fundamentally at odds with the principles of good-faith cooperation and the obligation not to cause harm.

As the guardian of the Nile's legacy, Egypt stands ready to protect its people's interests, now and in the future. The message from Cairo is clear: the Nile is a river of life, not a tool of domination, and Egypt will never yield to threats or fait accompli.