The Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) today issued a statement asserting that Egypt is continuing to pursue an "after me the deluge" approach regarding the Abbay (Blue Abay) River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The ministry highlighted that Egypt's persistent hostile rhetoric is rooted in its claim of "historic rights" in the Abbay Basin. This colonial-era mindset, the statement argued, has led Egypt to adopt a failed and misguided policy of undermining Ethiopia instead of fostering cooperation.
In contrast, Ethiopia, as the source of the Great Abbay River and 85% of the Abbay's water, is focused on its path to prosperity. The MoWE stressed that no pressure to restrict Ethiopia’s legitimate right to utilize the Abbay for development will halt its progress. Ethiopia’s pursuit of prosperity, the statement emphasized, will not be deterred by any provocation or proxy warfare.
The statement recalled that for decades, Ethiopia and other Abbay Basin countries have attempted to establish transboundary cooperation with Egypt based on international law, but these efforts have been consistently obstructed by Egypt’s uncooperative stance.
The ministry further stated that Egypt has never engaged in good faith during negotiations concerning the GERD's first filling, annual operation assessment, the Abbay Basin cooperation framework, or the tripartite talks. Moreover, Egypt is accused of attempting to impose its outdated "historic rights" concept—a vestige of the colonial era—while neglecting the interests and rights of other riparian states.
The MoWE also pointed out that Egypt has engaged in numerous illegal and reckless water-wasting practices, including out-of-basin water diversion without any consultation with or notification to other riparian countries.
The ministry asserted that the Abbay issue can only be resolved through direct dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, adding that water security is only assured when all basin countries utilize the river in a fair and equitable manner.
Given that Egypt's fate is intertwined with that of the other African riparian countries, the ministry stated that the only rational choice is for Egypt to deal with the upper riparian states on equal terms, free from the threats, insults, and inappropriate acts that have characterized its approach.
The ministry criticized Egypt's rapid shift from fabricating claims of "drought" to raising alarms about "flooding" as evidence of its unwillingness to seek a solution centered on mutual interest. It also accused Egypt of attempting to draw Sudan into its manufactured crisis.
It was noted that Ethiopia and Sudan maintain effective coordination on the GERD and will continue to translate their brotherly ties into the shared development of their people.
As a nation with extensive experience in constructing and operating hydroelectric dams, Ethiopia assures that it is managing its dams, including the GERD, with the highest professional standards. The ministry added that Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative afforestation campaign is a natural conservation effort that benefits the GERD, suggesting it is a lesson Egypt should consider.
In closing, the statement underscored Ethiopia's continued commitment to prioritizing diplomatic channels and a friendly approach to the Abbay issue while refraining from hostile acts and inappropriate declarations.
