Egypt condemns Ethiopia over Nile water control statements

An Egyptian official has condemned recent statements by Ethiopia’s Minister of Water and Energy, Hatemamu Haile, regarding the construction of additional dams on the Nile River and the intent to ‘control’ water flows to downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan.

The Egyptian source characterized these remarks as a “flagrant violation of international law” and an attempt by Addis Ababa to impose hegemony over a shared international river. The official stated that the explicit pursuit of control over water flows contradicts established international principles, including the obligation to avoid significant harm and the requirement for good-faith cooperation among basin states.

Egypt maintains that the Nile is not the property of any single nation and has previously informed the UN Security Council that it will take all measures permitted under international law to protect its people’s water rights. The official emphasized that Egypt will not allow any party to impose a fait accompli regarding the control of the river’s flows.