What You Need to Know
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry has accused senior Egyptian officials of escalating hostile rhetoric and outright refusal to engage in dialogue regarding the Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The ministry described this attitude as a colonial mindset still present among Egyptian officials, asserting Ethiopia’s right to benefit from the Blue Nile.
Africa. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry has accused senior Egyptian officials of escalating hostile rhetoric and outright refusal to engage in dialogue regarding the Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The ministry described this attitude as a colonial mindset still present among Egyptian officials regarding their dominance over the Nile waters.
In a statement, the Ethiopian Ministry asserted that recent comments from Cairo are “manifestations of the Egyptian government’s failure to address realities in the 21st century,” adding that some officials remain “stuck in a colonial mentality” and believe they “monopolize the Nile waters.”
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry criticized Egypt’s repeated reliance on colonial-era treaties, stating that Addis Ababa “has no room to accommodate the remnants of colonialism that Cairo struggles to shed.”
The ministry also accused Egypt of long-term efforts to destabilize the Horn of Africa, claiming that Egyptian authorities “are waging a campaign to destabilize the region, focusing on Ethiopia but not limited to it,” and are pursuing “subservient, weak, and fragmented states.”
The Foreign Ministry emphasized Ethiopia’s historical role in supporting African liberation movements, asserting that Ethiopia “has the right to benefit” from the Blue Nile, noting that the river originates from Ethiopian highlands and contributes to the majority of the Nile’s waters.
The Nile River has been a source of tension between Ethiopia and Egypt for decades, primarily due to the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt relies heavily on the Nile for its water supply, while Ethiopia views the dam as crucial for its development and energy needs. Historical treaties favoring Egypt have complicated negotiations, leading to ongoing disputes over water rights and usage.
