Egypt: It’s Time to Come to Conclusion on the Nile

By Samuel Getachew - The Reporter Ethiopia

As Ethiopia is moving towards the completion of its hydroelectric project, the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), at a cost of USD 4 billion, Egypt is once again calling for an agreement on the issue of the Nile, which has been in prolonged tit-for-tat between both nations.

In Cairo, at a media event held within the premises of its foreign ministry, Egypt’s foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry reinstated his nations hope that the new government of Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Prime Minister, would come to an agreement with Egypt and neighboring Sudan for a final decision and start a new and better relationship with his nation.

"This has been a long conversation and discussion (with Ethiopia) on the issue of the Nile that has been ongoing since 2014 and its time to come to a conclusion. We have to understand the importance of the Nile to the Egyptians as it’s the only source of water to us,” the minister told The Reporter.

“Egypt is willing to sacrifice and take to heart Ethiopia's needs to it and the need to construct the dam. We have to put ourselves in each other’s shoes, that of Egypt's, Ethiopia's and Sudan's," Shoukry added. "Through an agreement that respects an international law and mutual interests, we can begin to cooperate in many ways, not just on the Nile.”

Egypt is relying on the Nile as her source of more than 90 percent of its supply of water. The nation has been airing its concerns as Ethiopia started building the dam and started the mechanism to curb the flow of the water to the nation.

Both Egypt and Ethiopia have promised to come to a mutual agreeable solution last year, but there has not been any further progress. After the impasse, President Abdel Fattah el Sisi of Egypt has expressed his wish for a conclusion.

According to media reports, Ahmed promised that Ethiopia was committed in making sure Egypt’s share of the Nile water would not be compromised.

“We will take care of the Nile and we will preserve your share and we will work to increase this quota and President Sisi and I will work on this,” he said during his early days after undertaking his premier position.