Addis Ababa – Ethiopia has formally responded to Egypt’s appeal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), underscoring its sovereign right to develop the Nile River and firmly rejecting what it described as Cairo’s “anachronistic” claims to water monopoly.
In a letter dated September 9, 2025, addressed to the UNSC, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Gedion Timothewos (PhD), celebrated the GERD’s inauguration as the fulfillment of a generational aspiration and a milestone in Africa’s quest for self-reliant development. He stressed that the project embodies the determination of more than 120 million Ethiopians to lift themselves out of poverty through equitable and sustainable use of natural resources.
Ethiopia’s response directly countered Egypt’s allegations of unilateralism and threats to regional security, pointing out that Addis Ababa has consistently engaged in negotiations with Cairo and Khartoum while upholding its commitments under the 2015 Declaration of Principles. The letter emphasized that Egypt, not Ethiopia, has hindered progress by refusing to ratify the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), which enshrines the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization of shared watercourses and entered into force in October 2024.
Rejecting Egypt’s reliance on outdated colonial-era treaties and “historic rights,” Minister Gedion called Cairo’s position baseless and counterproductive, urging Egyptian authorities to embrace modern water management strategies such as groundwater utilization, desalination, and technological innovation. He warned against policies that perpetuate regional inequality, stating: “Egypt’s contempt for the dignity of sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia, has no place in the twenty-first century.”
The Ethiopian letter also highlighted the presence of African heads of state and regional organizations at the GERD inauguration, underscoring broad continental solidarity behind the project. Ethiopia framed the GERD as not only a national triumph but also a symbol of Africa’s collective resilience, renewable energy leadership, and climate-friendly growth model.
In rebuttal to Egypt’s invocation of a non-binding advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Ethiopia reaffirmed that international law recognizes its sovereign right to utilize its share of the Nile in a fair and equitable manner. It further cautioned the UNSC that Egypt’s hostile posture and destabilizing activities in the Horn of Africa undermine regional peace and cooperation.
Concluding his letter, Minister Gedion underlined that Egypt’s existing water use and projects have “no bearing whatsoever” on Ethiopia’s legitimate development ambitions. He reaffirmed Addis Ababa’s readiness to continue dialogue within an African-led framework and reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to regional integration, peace, and sustainable prosperity.
BY: The Times Unioin
