Egyptian Irrigation Minister: GERD is illegitimate and we’ll not recognize It

Egypt’s Irrigation Minister Hani Sweilem said that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is “illegitimate and violates international law, and we cannot recognize it.”

Sweilem’s remarks came during a trip to Tanzania on Friday to inaugurate the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Dam and Power Station, constructed by an Egyptian consortium.

He noted how the Tanzanian dam stands in stark contrast to the GERD, which he described as “a bad example of what can happen between upstream and downstream countries when they adopt a unilateral approach that disregards international law.”

Sweilem emphasized that it is unacceptable for the GERD to be “a dam of harm, conflict, and division among our African brothers and our brothers in the Nile Basin.”

He stressed that Egypt has no problem with any country in the Nile Basin, except Ethiopia, and that cooperation is underway on development projects and the construction of new dams by Egyptian hands.

Not just about dams

Sweilem continued: “It’s not just about dams. We are discussing with African countries the possibility of building dams with Egyptian expertise and partial Egyptian funding. But the core issue lies in respecting good neighborly relations and international norms, which the Ethiopian side has failed to do.”

The Minister of Irrigation clarified that Egypt does not oppose the right of Nile Basin countries to development, but it will not allow the construction of new dams or any unilateral actions that could harm the interests of downstream countries.

He added that any future steps regarding the Nile River must be taken within a framework of negotiation and under a binding agreement that guarantees no harm to downstream states.

Sweilem emphasized Egypt’s unwavering stance on protecting its water rights, noting that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has affirmed Egypt’s commitment to the principles of international law and to not harming the rights of downstream countries.

He also expressed appreciation for US President Donald Trump’s offer to resume mediation to resolve the Nile water sharing crisis.

Sweilem further noted that the GERD remains a top priority issue in Egyptian water policy, with ongoing diplomatic efforts to safeguard Egypt’s historical water rights.