At a major international water conference in Rome, Egypt’s Ambassador to Rome Bassam Rady sharply criticised Ethiopia’s stance on the dam issue, urging Addis Ababa to stop stalling and apply the principles of international law for concluding an agreement on operating the dam.
During the high-level global water-use conference held at the FAO headquarters in Rome – and attended by senior officials from Europe, the EU, and African states – Ambassador Rady outlined Egypt’s under the leadership of President Sisi to pursue a national strategy to manage and maximise its limited water resources.
He highlighted Egypt’s major national projects, including wastewater treatment, seawater desalination, and nationwide upgrades to irrigation and agricultural systems.
Ambassador Rady contrasted Egypt’s efforts with what Ethiopia’s continued refusal – after more than ten years of negotiations – to reach a binding agreement on operating the dam on the Blue Nile that represents 85 per cent of Nile waters. He stressed that Egypt’s water security is a “matter of existence,” accusing Ethiopia of engaging in such illegal practices in the eastern Nile Basin that impact security and stability across the entire Nile Basin region.
In response, the head of the Ethiopian delegation claimed Ethiopia remains open to resuming talks with Egypt at any time. Rady replied firmly, saying Ethiopia seeks “endless negotiations with no results,” adding: “Enough evasion – wake up from the illusion of controlling the Nile.”
