Egypt Appeals to UN Security Council Over Rising Tensions with Ethiopia Regarding Nile Dam
On Sunday, Egypt formally addressed the United Nations Security Council, voicing its discontent regarding Ethiopia’s unilateral actions concerning the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River. Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdel Atty, articulated Cairo’s concerns in a letter, highlighting that Ethiopia’s ongoing projects are perceived as direct threats to Egypt’s substantial reliance on the river’s waters.
Cairo has expressed its dissatisfaction with Ethiopia’s approach to advance the dam’s completion and the filling of its reservoir without prior consultation with Egypt, a move that has been described as endangering regional stability. The letter emphasized that Egypt has engaged in negotiations with Ethiopia in good faith for over 13 years, noting that the discussions had stagnated as it became evident that Ethiopia intended to prolong negotiations as a smokescreen while establishing a factual situation on the ground.
While the recent correspondence reiterates long-held Egyptian views concerning the persistent dispute with Ethiopia over the GERD, it carries increased significance amidst escalating tensions between the two nations. Particularly upsetting for Ethiopia was Egypt’s recent military assistance to Somalia, aimed at reinforcing the latter’s defenses in light of Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland to lease coastal territory. This agreement has been met with vehement opposition from Somalia, which perceives it as a blatant infringement upon its sovereignty.
Egypt, recognizing its acute dependency on the Nile—its principal source of freshwater amidst its arid landscape—has underscored that any alteration to its allocation of Nile waters could adversely affect its agricultural economy and food security, posing a threat to hundreds of thousands of livelihoods. In stark contrast, Ethiopia maintains that the dam is foundational to its developmental aspirations and has assured that its actions will not jeopardize the interests of downstream nations, including Egypt and Sudan.
The Egyptian letter warned the Security Council of the severe implications of Ethiopia’s actions and reiterated that Egypt would continue monitoring the situation closely. Moreover, Egypt expressed its readiness to undertake all necessary measures stipulated under the UN Charter to safeguard its existence and those of its populace. This situation reflects an enduring tension, exacerbated by conflicting national interests and the critical importance of the Nile to both nations.
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