Egypt has strongly criticized Ethiopia's plans to build additional dams on the Nile River, accusing Addis Ababa of seeking unilateral control over a shared international waterway and warning that such a move would violate international water law.

The reaction came after Ethiopian Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa said on Aug. 15 that Ethiopia intended to construct new dams on the Nile, adding that the projects would allow the country to regulate the river's flow toward downstream nations.

An Egyptian official, quoted by the state-run MENA news agency, rejected the remarks, saying the Nile is a shared international river that cannot be placed under the control of a single country. The official argued that attempts to monopolize the river's resources run contrary to internationally recognized principles governing transboundary waterways.

Dispute extends beyond the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Egypt's criticism follows reports in Ethiopian media that the government is planning three additional dams with a combined storage capacity of around 140 billion cubic meters.

The latest disagreement adds to a years-long dispute involving Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a massive hydropower project on the Blue Nile that Ethiopia considers essential for meeting domestic electricity demand and expanding energy exports.

Ethiopia argues that although roughly 80% of the Nile's waters originate within its territory, it has historically benefited from only a small share of the river's resources. Egypt, however, insists that any major upstream project must be coordinated through a legally binding agreement to protect downstream water supplies and safeguard the interests of all riparian states.

Long-running negotiations remain unresolved

Negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the management and operation of the GERD have continued for years without producing a comprehensive agreement.

Egypt has repeatedly warned that unilateral measures affecting the Nile's flow could threaten its water security, while Ethiopia maintains that its hydropower projects are intended for development purposes and will not cause significant harm to downstream countries.

The renewed exchange of statements highlights the continuing tensions surrounding one of Africa's most strategically important shared water resources, with no final settlement yet in sight.(ILKHA)