Egypt has no alternative but to come to the table and cooperate with all Abay basin countries for reasonable and equitable utilization of the Abay River, a Kenyan water expert has stated.

Dr. John Rao Nyaoro, an International Consultant on Transboundary Waters Policy and Legal Framework, emphasized that discussion and cooperation are Egypt's only options for managing the Abay's waters.

"The dam is on. There are two big dams on the Abay," Nyaoro said, referring to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). "Egypt has no alternative but to agree to come to the table, cooperate with all the Abay basin states for equitable and reasonable utilization of the GERD so that they can also benefit."

Nyaoro's comments highlight the need for a collaborative approach to ensure the shared benefits of the Abay's resources for all riparian countries.