He called this a violation of international law during a meeting on Saturday with Mona Ali, Secretary General of Sudan's Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources.

The meeting took place in Riyadh on the sidelines of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

Sewilam stated that Ethiopia is seeking to establish a fait accompli, lacking the political will to resolve the longstanding issue caused by the dam, which has been of concern to Cairo and Khartoum since 2011.

Between 2020 and 2024, Ethiopia unilaterally completed the five-phase filling of the dam, bringing two turbines into operation, despite the absence of an agreement with downstream nations, Egypt and Sudan, on filling and operational procedures.

A decade of negotiations between the downstream nations and Ethiopia has failed to produce an agreement that ensures their water security and dam safety while addressing Ethiopia's interests.

In December 2023, Cairo announced the end of the GERD negotiation track due to Ethiopia's persistent rejection of any of the proposed technical or legal solutions.

According to a statement by the irrigation ministry, Sewilam accused Addis Ababa of trying to legitimise its unilateral policies that contravene international law, hiding behind unfounded claims such as the right to development.

"Development is achieved for all when there is a commitment to cooperative practices reflected in international law, not through harming others and strengthening regional cohesion," the statement quoted him as saying.

Sewilam reiterated that cooperation on international river basins is essential for Egypt and called on riparian states to adhere to international law, including existing agreements and principles.

He stressed the need for studies to assess the environmental, economic, and social impact of major projects in shared river basins, ensuring the rights of downstream nations are considered.

Sewilam also highlighted the risks posed by unilateral actions that violate international law, such as those related to the GERD.

He reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of any actions or measures that affect its or Sudan's rights to Nile waters, reiterating the importance of avoiding unilateral steps that could harm the water interests of both countries.

For her part, Ali pointed to the negative environmental impacts of the Ethiopian dam on Sudan, including the risks caused by artificial droughts, which she said are a consequence of building large dams on rivers.

In late October, Ethiopia announced the completion of the GERD's construction and filling, nearly 13 years after the process started.

Cairo and Sudan have registered their objections with the UN Security Council over Ethiopia's intransigence in unilaterally filling the GERD without any legally binding agreement.

Egypt, which relies mainly on the Nile for its water needs, fears that the GERD will harm its already scarce water supply, while Sudan is concerned about the impacts on the safety of its dams.