In a high-stakes diplomatic meeting in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi hosted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to discuss regional cooperation, with the future of the River Nile taking center stage. At a joint press conference, President Sisi issued a firm declaration that Egypt would take all necessary measures to safeguard its water security, a statement widely interpreted as a reference to Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt has long expressed concern that the dam, situated upstream on the Blue Nile, could significantly reduce the flow of water reaching its territory, posing what it views as an existential threat.
Ethiopia, however, has consistently rejected these claims, asserting that the GERD is vital for its national development and energy generation. “Anyone who imagines that Egypt will turn a blind eye to an existential threat to its water security is mistaken… We will continue to monitor the situation and take all measures provided for under international law to safeguard our people’s existential resources,” Sisi warned, as quoted by Ahram Online. His remarks underscore the deepening urgency surrounding the issue, which has remained unresolved despite more than a decade of negotiations between Ethiopia and the downstream nations of Egypt and Sudan.
Tensions escalated further last year when the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), a new Nile water-sharing accord backed by seven upstream countries, came into effect. Cairo and Khartoum protested the agreement, arguing that it undermines their historical rights to the river’s waters. These rights were originally established under colonial-era treaties that granted Egypt and Sudan a disproportionate share of the Nile’s flow. Upstream nations, however, have long contended that these arrangements are outdated and unjust, and have pushed for a more equitable distribution of the river’s resources.
The Nile River remains a potent symbol of both life and contention in eastern Africa, with its waters sustaining millions across multiple nations. As regional dynamics shift and development ambitions grow, the geopolitical tensions surrounding the Nile—particularly between Egypt and Ethiopia—continue to demand careful diplomacy, mutual understanding, and a commitment to shared prosperity. The Cairo talks signal Egypt’s resolve to protect its vital interests while navigating a complex and evolving regional landscape.