Egypt alleges Ethiopia mismanaging Niel dam

(MENAFN) Egypt has strongly criticized Ethiopia’s handling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), accusing it of endangering regional stability through what it calls irresponsible management.
According to official statements, Egyptian authorities claim that the dam's current operations have led to intensified flooding in Sudan and pose potential risks to Egyptian territory.

As stated by reports, Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation accused Ethiopia of flouting international norms and operating the GERD without proper coordination. The ministry emphasized that these actions are not only unlawful but reveal a broader disregard for the safety and wellbeing of downstream populations. Officials argued that the flooding in Sudan is directly tied to what they referred to as “illegal” and uncoordinated releases from the dam. They further claimed that Ethiopia’s statements about not harming neighboring countries are misleading, characterizing them as the “political exploitation of water at the expense of life.”

Responding to these allegations, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Energy rejected the claims, labeling them “malicious and baseless.” According to Ethiopian authorities, Cairo’s position is full of inaccuracies and misrepresentations. They presented hydrological data to defend the dam’s performance, noting that historical flow rates during peak flood seasons had previously exceeded 800 million cubic meters per day before GERD existed. By contrast, this year’s discharge rates were significantly lower—averaging 155 million in August and 472 million in September—suggesting the dam had in fact helped reduce flood impact.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” the Ethiopian ministry stated, insisting that the GERD has played a protective role for downstream regions. The Ethiopian government also reiterated its willingness to collaborate with Sudan in managing the Nile’s resources.

“Ethiopia will continue to work closely with the relevant Sudanese authorities and experts to ensure that the GERD will continue to be a blessing to Sudan by mitigating the devastating level of flood that would have been caused in Khartoum had it not been for the GERD,” the ministry added.

The escalation in tensions comes shortly after Ethiopia officially launched the GERD, now recognized as the largest hydroelectric facility on the African continent. With a capacity of 5.15 gigawatts, the dam is seen by Addis Ababa as crucial to addressing the country’s severe energy shortages, as a significant portion of its population still lacks stable electricity access. However, both Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly raised concerns that the project could seriously disrupt water availability, particularly during periods of drought.

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