Despite dam dispute, Egypt seeks to build trust with Ethiopia
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Egyptian Water Minister Hossam Moghazi addresses the ongoing dispute with Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam.
CAIRO — After water ministers from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia failed to reach a technical agreement to reduce the risk posed by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and negotiations were upgraded to the political level between foreign affairs ministers, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hossam Moghazi told Al-Monitor, “Cairo is totally committed politically to building trust with Ethiopia. However, it will not relinquish any of its historical and vested rights to the Nile waters.”
Speaking to Al-Monitor in Cairo following his return from a three-country meeting held in Khartoum earlier this month, Moghazi spoke about the government’s opinion on the efficiency of the negotiations with Ethiopia following the calls that opposed the continuation of negotiations, and considered them a waste of time. Meanwhile, construction is ongoing at the dam site, with Addis Ababa not waiting for the outcomes of the negotiations and technical studies that would define how to reduce the risks for Egypt.
