CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has issued a strong warning that Egypt will oppose any development projects in the Nile Basin that could diminish its share of the river’s water, describing the issue as a matter of “life or death” for his country. 

Speaking during a joint press conference with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Cairo on Tuesday, El-Sisi said Egypt supports development across Nile Basin countries but insists that such projects must not compromise its water security.

“We will not reject the development of our partners and fellow nations, but development should not impact Egypt’s share of Nile River water,” he stressed. 

“If we give it up, we give up life because we have no other source of water. Egypt suffers from a lack of rain.” El-Sisi noted that the Nile carries more than 160 billion cubic meters of water annually, with 85 billion cubic meters from the Blue Nile, yet Egypt and Sudan together receive only four percent of the total inflow. He warned that any reduction would threaten the livelihoods of millions of Egyptians who depend entirely on the river. 

The Egyptian leader’s remarks come against the backdrop of longstanding tensions with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Addis Ababa has constructed on the Blue Nile.

Egypt fears the dam will significantly reduce its water supply during filling and operation, while Ethiopia maintains it is essential for its electricity generation and economic development. Despite years of African Union–led negotiations, the two sides have failed to reach a binding agreement on the dam’s operation. 

Cairo has repeatedly pressed for a legally enforceable deal to ensure that Ethiopia releases sufficient water downstream, while Addis Ababa insists on a flexible framework.

Tensions
The dispute has heightened regional tensions, with Egypt warning it will not allow any action that compromises its water security, and Ethiopia rejecting what it sees as attempts to curtail its sovereign right to use its resources. 

While reiterating his commitment to cooperation, El-Sisi underscored that Cairo would always uphold international law to safeguard its water rights.

“We are not against development in any Basin country, but we call for equitable sharing of water resources. We must coexist and ensure that development does not harm the people who depend entirely on this river,” he said.

President Museveni, in his remarks, acknowledged Egypt’s concerns and urged a broader vision for the Nile’s future, saying the debate should not be reduced to historical rights alone.

“Sometimes, the problem is the approach. Instead of limiting ourselves to historical rights, we should focus on the global needs of all Nile Basin countries,” he said.

“Prosperity for all, electricity for all, irrigation for all, and clean drinking water for all—if we include these in our framework, we can then use the most scientific and fair methods to achieve them,” Museveni added. 

He also challenged the perception that Uganda is landlocked, noting its natural connection to the Mediterranean through the Nile. “

“If there were no problems in Sudan, we would not be called landlocked. We are connected to Egypt because of the Nile,” he said.

Museveni further recalled the deep historical bonds between Uganda and Egypt, which he traced to ancient times and to the political solidarity fostered by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1950s.

“Uganda and the Great Lakes region are linked to Egypt by the Nile from ancient times. Politically, our closeness began in 1952 when President Nasser took leadership here. Before that, we had little contact, but Nasser, as an Africanist, worked closely with our leaders, Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah and supported the anti-colonial movement. When we came into government, we started working with the leaders at that time,” he said.

The exchange underscored the delicate balance between development ambitions in the Nile Basin and Egypt’s determination to protect its lifeline, with both leaders stressing the need for scientific, fair, and cooperative solutions.

By ChimpReports