Egypt Rejects Any Measure that Violates its Nile Water Rights

Egyptian President has stressed his country’s commitment to reaching comprehensive, binding and legal agreement on regulating the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. (GERD)

During a meeting with Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki in Cairo, he reiterated his rejection of any measure or action that would violate Egypt’s rights to Nile waters.

Sisi received Faki on Sunday days before a scheduled AU summit.

Faki, for his part, praised Egypt’s efforts, stressing the importance of continuing intense coordination to resolve the dam dispute and reaching a fair and balanced agreement.

According to presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady, the officials discussed several political developments and various conflicts in Africa, including the situation in the Horn of Africa and Libya.

Sisi said Cairo “has not (and will not) spare any effort to support its African brothers and will always seek cooperation, construction and development for the sake of all African countries.”

Development in Africa begins first with promoting stability and establishing an integrated infrastructure that forms a base, which allows linking African countries together, thus promoting the desired goal of economic and regional integration, a presidency statement read.

It quoted Faki as highlighting Cairo’s role and influence under Sisi in the continent, saying the AU Looks up to it as a “strong pillar of joint African action.”

He expressed confidence that Egypt “will continue to promote development efforts in Africa and maintain security and political stability in the continent.”

For nearly a decade, the AU-sponsored talks between Cairo, Addis Ababa and Khartoum over the operation and filling of the mega-dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile have faltered.

Egypt and Sudan fear the dam will affect their shares of the Nile waters and stress the need to reach a binding agreement that guarantees the rights and interests of the three countries, and includes a mechanism for settling disputes. Ethiopia, however, rejects “restricting its rights to use its water resources.”

The 38th two-day ordinary session of the AU’s Executive Council at the ministerial level is scheduled to be held via videoconference on Feb. 3. The 34th two-day ordinary session of the AU’s Assembly of the Heads of State and Government is scheduled for Feb. 6.