Journalist and writer Zahid Zidane has criticized Egyptian media coverage regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), stating that prevailing reportage lacks consistency and directly contradicts scientific assessments conducted by Egyptian scientists and water experts.
According to Zidane, public and media debates surrounding the dam are being driven by ambiguous and self-contradictory narratives rather than grounded in objective scientific and technical analysis.
He pointed to Egyptian geologist Dr. Abbas Sharaky as one of several national experts who have explicitly explained that the dam, by its very nature, poses no harm to Egypt.
Furthermore, Egyptian scientist Dr. Sameh Armanious has clarified that the GERD is strictly a hydroelectric project that generates electricity without causing water shortages, as the water used for power generation returns directly into the river course.
Space scientist Dr. Farouk El-Baz has similarly indicated that the dam facilitates improved overall water management, ultimately serving the shared interests of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.
Citing Sudanese experts, including Professor Seif el-Din Hamad and former Minister of Water and Irrigation Osman El-Tom—Zahid stressed the necessity of basing discussions about the Nile River on verified scientific evidence rather than political rhetoric.
He highlighted the fundamental contradictions in certain Egyptian media reports, which at times accuse the dam of threatening downstream nations with flooding and structural destruction, while at other times alleging that it will cause severe water depletion and drought.
Zahid added that assertions by politicians and media figures framing the dam as a threat to downstream countries are politically motivated and lack a coherent scientific foundation.
He explained that this misleading narrative represents a decades-long approach aimed at obstructing Ethiopia’s right to develop its natural resources on the Abay (Blue Nile) River, which contributes 86 percent of the total Nile water flowing to downstream nations.
In a report by the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Zidane also noted that because the total annual volume of the Nile River cannot be immediately calculated during the rainy season, making premature conclusions regarding water levels is scientifically invalid.
In light of these facts, he urged Egyptian media outlets to move away from political posturing and deliver balanced coverage grounded in empirical research and verified data.
