Egypt seeks greater share of Nile water amid rising tension with Ethiopia

Egypt is seeking to double its share of Nile water, not merely protect its existing allocation, according to Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. The tension with Ethiopia has escalated on two fronts. Speaking at a meeting chaired by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and attended by military commanders, Abdelatty stated that Egypt lies in the zone of water poverty.

El Sisi emphasized that Egypt is creating space for diplomacy and peaceful solutions regarding the Ethiopian dams, but this will not come at the expense of Egypt's existence or its people. He mentioned that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was built due to the unrest Egypt experienced from 2011 to 2013 and the absence of a state at that time.

Egypt relies on the Nile for over 98% of its freshwater, with its annual share being 55.5 billion cubic meters. However, Egyptian Water Minister Hani Sewilam stated that the country now needs about 123 billion cubic meters. Abdelatty asserted that Egypt will not accept any new dams or a repeat of the current situation with the Ethiopian dam.

He also noted that Egypt is monitoring all developments concerning the situation inside Ethiopia. However, he reiterated that Cairo does not interfere in other countries' affairs and has no hostility towards Ethiopia. This response came after Ethiopia's army chief accused Egypt of backing rebels in the country's north. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nader Zaki clarified that Cairo respects the sovereignty of other states and does not interfere in their affairs, dismissing any claims to the contrary as null and void.

The accusations follow an escalation in fighting in northern Ethiopia, where seven armed groups formed an alliance to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The fighting has largely ended the 2022 Pretoria peace deal. In response, Eritrea also accused Ethiopia of shifting the blame, stating that Ethiopia's pursuit of access to the Red Sea has alarmed its neighbors and strained regional ties.

The presence of Tigrayan fighters on the Sudanese army's side is supported by international sources, which claim thousands are involved in army-held territory and have fought alongside them against the RSF. This arrangement has angered Ethiopia, fearing that these fighters could cross back to join the campaign against Mr. Abiy's government.

Cairo has also taken its case on the dam abroad in an effort to internationalize the matter, with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly telling the UN General Assembly that the Nile is an existential issue that allows for no compromise. However, Cairo has received mixed signals from major powers, with the US increasing its military ties with Ethiopia and China's President Xi Jinping supporting Egypt's right to protect its water security at the UN General Assembly.