Egypt’s Sisi Rejects Unilateral Actions on Nile

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has rejected unilateral actions on the Nile, warning that Egypt will not compromise its water rights amid tensions over Ethiopia’s nearly completed Grand Renaissance Dam.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has firmly rejected any unilateral actions on the Nile River, warning that the country will not compromise its historic water rights.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Sisi highlighted the critical importance of the Nile to Egypt’s survival. He noted that Egypt and Sudan together receive approximately 85 billion cubic metres of water annually, representing only around four percent of the total flow from the White and Blue Nile. Sisi stressed that relinquishing this share would endanger the livelihoods of millions of Egyptians in a country heavily reliant on the river for agriculture, electricity, and domestic use.

While welcoming the development benefits of Nile waters for upstream countries, including agriculture and electricity generation, Sisi insisted that such projects must not reduce the quantity of water reaching Egypt. His remarks come in the context of ongoing concerns over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), which is nearing completion and is scheduled for official inauguration in September.

Construction on the GERD began in 2011, and over the years the project has become a focal point of diplomatic tension between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. Despite years of negotiations mediated by the African Union, the three countries have yet to reach a legally binding agreement on long-term water management and dam operation.

Sisi framed the issue within a broader context, emphasising that Egypt opposes external interference and conspiracies that could compromise its national interests. “Egypt prioritises construction, development, and continental unity,” he said, underlining the country’s commitment to peaceful cooperation while safeguarding its water security.

The Nile, as the world’s longest river, is a vital lifeline for more than 300 million people across the region, and the management of its waters remains a sensitive and high-stakes issue for all countries along its course.