Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation on Friday denied social media claims that water levels in the Nile River had risen unusually, calling the reports inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement, the ministry said the posts contained “false information and analyses” that sought to justify illegal encroachments on the river’s banks. It said clarification was necessary “to prevent public confusion.”
The ministry said that higher water levels seen in some areas along the Nile and its two branches were part of regular water management operations. “Submersion of certain riverbank lands is a natural and temporary phenomenon,” it said, explaining that the releases of additional water are carried out as part of the system’s routine management to accommodate inflows from upstream.
Satellite images showed similar flooding in previous years, including 2019 and earlier in 2025, the ministry said, adding that the latest fluctuations were linked to “unregulated discharges from Upper Nile regions in recent weeks.”
Egypt has been implementing a nationwide programme known as the National Project for Nile Regulation, which aims to clear long-standing encroachments, improve the river’s flow efficiency, and enhance state control over the waterway.
The ministry warned that illegal occupations along the river reduce its capacity to carry water efficiently. It said authorities coordinate to limit potential damage but will continue efforts to remove all violations.
It added that water releases are managed precisely and in coordination with other government bodies, taking into account the seasonal shift between summer and winter crops. Local authorities are notified in advance to address violations and prevent any water level rise.
The ministry rejected claims that farming or building on Nile riverbank land is legally permitted. It cited ministerial decree No. 280 of 2018, which classifies such occupations as violations of public property, subject to removal. Temporary usage fees paid by violators “do not legalise the situation,” the statement said.
“Encroachments on public property do not lapse over time,” the ministry said, adding that Egypt remains committed to upholding the law and protecting the Nile as “a cornerstone of the nation’s water security.”
It said the government would press ahead with the national project “regardless of challenges,” calling the protection of the river “a collective responsibility for Egypt’s present and future.”
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