Renaissance Dam Again and Again.. We Will Never Surrender, Op-ed

On Friday, the third round in the decisive phase of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam “GERD” negotiations began after Egypt referred the issue to the Security Council, this round is attended by 11 international observers from the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union.

The goal of these negotiations is the life of Egypt and the Egyptians. We are negotiating that it’s our right to life, as it is a certain fact that Egyptian people have the right to life and will never surrender or despair as the right to life is a right guaranteed by international law, all laws and customs as well.

The struggle over the water of the Nile extends over thousands of years, since the era of Hatshepsut and the Puntland, and it will never end, in previous times the GERD negotiations were taking place amid global silence, the weakness of the Security Council and the collusion of some parties, but the situation this time is different as water represents  the life for Egypt while President Sisi said it clearly and decisively: “The Nile is a matter of life or death.”

We will not surrender ... we will negotiate because Egypt is experiencing  an existential danger plotted by a member state of the United Nations, this danger threatens the only source of life for more than 100 million Egyptians.

The Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, this huge project that Ethiopia has constructed on the Blue Nile, exploiting a moment of historical weakness during the hateful Brotherhood rule of Egypt, threatens  the security and survival of an entire nation, by threatening the course of the Nile which represents the only source of life.

We appreciate the importance of this project - in achieving the development goals of the Ethiopian people, which is the goal we support, but it is necessary to realize that this huge project threatens the capabilities and survival of millions of Egyptians and Sudanese people.

Therefore, filling and operating the dam unilaterally, and without reaching an agreement explicitly stipulating the necessary measures to protect the communities in both the downstream countries, especially during the days of drought, will increase tension and could spark off crises and conflicts that threaten stability in an already troubled region.

Although Egypt did not reach any satisfactory agreement regarding filling and operation of the dam during dry periods and drought, however, I did not lose my optimism, not only because I feel  confident in today’s and tomorrow’s rounds, but because I’m confidence in our right and in Egypt’s confident steps and well-studied escalation.

After the negotiations that lasted for 9 years at the bilateral and tripartite levels, then at the level of the basin countries, then the Washington negotiations round in which the World Bank participated while Ethiopia withdrew, confidence is strengthened by the international presence in Friday’s session that was attended by 11 observers.

We are fighting our battle honestly and betting on the justice and humanity of our demand, which is consistent with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi speech’s before the joint session of the Ethiopian parliament, when he bet on a future in which all classes in all schools in Ethiopia will be powered by electricity and in which all the children of Egypt will continue to drink from the Nile waters just like their fathers and forefathers used to do.

I do affirm .. we will not give up .. If negotiations fail, we will negotiate .. and negotiate .. and negotiate .. Our souls are always ready to save Egypt and the Egyptian people.