El Sisi says Egypt's share of Nile water is 'historical and legal' right

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has declared that Egypt's share of the Nile's water is a "historical and legal" right that cannot be negotiated or altered, in a renewed clash over water resources with Ethiopia. In a televised address, El Sisi stated, "Let me say very clearly and decisively that the Nile is Egypt's lifeline and has for thousands of years been the foundation of its very existence."

He emphasized that Egypt's water share is an "enshrined historical and legal right that cannot be reduced or touched." While Egypt is amenable to cooperation with other Nile basin nations, he warned, "It will not tolerate any action that touches its water security and will continue to defend these rights by all means provided under international law."

Egypt relies heavily on the Nile for almost all of its freshwater needs and holds a 55.5 billion cubic meters share of the river's water under a 1959 agreement with Sudan. However, Ethiopia views this agreement as invalid and outdated. The issue of Egypt's water share gained prominence when Ethiopia began constructing a dam on the Blue Nile, the river's largest tributary, which accounts for over 80 percent of the water reaching Egypt.

Although the reservoir's initial filling had limited impact on Egypt due to ample rainfall in Ethiopia, the country is concerned that its water share may diminish during prolonged droughts.

Egypt and Sudan have been urging Ethiopia to accept a legally binding deal that would grant the two allies a say in the dam's operation, a demand that Ethiopia refuses as an infringement on its sovereignty. Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia have escalated recently, with Addis Ababa accusing Cairo, along with Sudan and Eritrea, of supporting an anti-government rebellion. These allegations have been denied by the three countries.

El Sisi's remarks followed Ethiopia's foreign ministry issuing a defiant statement reaffirming the country's control over the Blue Nile and its "legitimate" right to the Red Sea. Ethiopia argues that its connection to the Red Sea, despite changes in political boundaries, should be considered in discussions about regional maritime affairs and security architecture.