Egypt's FM: Ethiopia Operates GERD Without Coordination

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has accused Ethiopia of continuing to operate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam unilaterally and without coordination with the downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Mozambican Foreign Minister Maria Manuela Lucas, Abdelatty said Ethiopia’s management of the dam did not take the interests of the two downstream states into account or comply with international rules governing transboundary waterways.

He said international law was clear on the management of shared rivers, but claimed Ethiopia had handled the GERD issue in a politicised manner over recent years.

According to Abdelatty, the retention of water without prior coordination contributed to lower Nile levels and affected efforts to provide drinking water. He also said the opening of the dam’s gates without advance notification had caused flooding in parts of Sudan and fluctuations in river levels inside Egypt.

The minister stressed that Egypt did not oppose Ethiopia’s right to development but rejected any development process that harmed the rights of downstream countries.

“Ethiopia has the right to development, and Egypt has the right to life,” he said.

Addressing Libya, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the unification of Libyan institutions, particularly the military establishment, in a way that serves the aspirations of the Libyan people and strengthens the country’s stability.

He said he had discussed developments in Libya with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to the US President for Arab and African Affairs, and reiterated Egypt’s support for initiatives seeking a comprehensive political settlement.

On the Palestinian issue, Abdelatty said lasting security in the Middle East could not be achieved without granting Palestinians their legitimate rights. He reaffirmed Egypt’s support for the two-state solution as the only path to a just and lasting peace.

He also backed the US peace plan and called for the completion of its first phase before negotiations begin on a second phase involving weapons arrangements, further Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the deployment of an international stabilisation force and the training of Palestinian police.