AMN Plus-July 23, 2026
Egypt’s opposition to Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) stems not only from concerns about the dam itself, but from a fundamental disagreement over how the waters of the Nile should be governed.
For decades, Egypt has based much of its legal position on two agreements: the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, negotiated during British colonial rule, and the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement between Egypt and Sudan. Together, these accords allocated almost all of the Nile’s waters to Egypt and Sudan while excluding the other upstream countries, including Ethiopia. Ethiopia was never a party to either agreement. Consequently, it maintains that it is neither legally nor morally bound by treaties negotiated without its participation or consent.
From Ethiopia’s perspective, colonial-era arrangements cannot define the rights and responsibilities of sovereign African states in the twenty-first century. While some in Egypt argue that these agreements established permanent or “historic rights” over the Nile, Ethiopia rejects that interpretation. It contends that no colonial power had the authority to allocate the waters of an international river on behalf of countries that were neither represented nor consulted during the negotiations.
A frequently cited historical parallel is Egypt’s own rejection of colonial control over the Suez Canal. In 1956, President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal, asserting Egypt’s sovereign right to control a strategic national asset. Ethiopia argues that, by the same principle, it cannot be expected to accept colonial-era arrangements that sought to determine the use of its natural resources without its consent.
Ethiopia further argues that the Nile is a shared international river whose management should be guided by the principles of modern international water law. These principles emphasize equitable and reasonable utilization, cooperation among riparian states, and the obligation to avoid causing significant harm. Under this framework, no single country enjoys exclusive ownership of the Nile, nor should the development aspirations of one nation permanently override those of the others.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was designed primarily to generate renewable hydroelectric power rather than consume water through large-scale irrigation. Ethiopia has consistently stated that the project is intended to expand access to clean energy, support national and regional economic development, and foster greater cooperation among the countries of the Nile Basin.
As populations continue to grow and development needs increase across the region, Ethiopia argues that a modern, inclusive, and cooperative framework is essential. The Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), negotiated by the basin countries themselves, represents such an approach. It seeks to promote equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile while strengthening cooperation and sustainable management among all riparian states. Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Sudan have ratified the agreement.
From Ethiopia’s perspective, lasting peace and prosperity in the Nile Basin cannot be built on colonial-era arrangements that excluded most of the countries sharing the river. Instead, they require mutual respect, meaningful dialogue, and a shared commitment to fairness, cooperation, and international law.
Rather than relying on agreements inherited from the colonial past, the countries of the Nile Basin have an opportunity to build a future founded on equality, shared benefits, and sustainable development. Ethiopia maintains that such an approach offers the most constructive path toward regional stability and prosperity for both present and future generations.
By Birhanu Workneh
