Part of the meeting held in Cairo, Egypt. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a joint statement issued after a meeting of their foreign and irrigation ministers in Cairo, both nations underscored that the dam "represents a continuing threat to the stability of the situation in the Eastern Nile Basin under international law."
The meeting, held as part of the 2+2 Consultative Mechanism, reaffirmed Cairo and Khartoum's shared stance on the project, while asserting that the disputed dam breaches international law and poses serious risks to the downstream nations.
They cited dangers arising from Ethiopia's unilateral moves to fill and operate the dam, concerns over its structural safety, and the risks of uncontrolled water releases and poor management during droughts, according to the statement.
The two countries said "Ethiopia must change its policy in the Eastern Nile Basin to restore cooperation" among the riparian states.
They also rejected any attempts to involve other Nile Basin countries in the dispute, insisting it should remain exclusively between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Construction of the GERD began in 2011, sparking tensions between upstream Ethiopia and downstream Egypt and Sudan.
While not opposed to Ethiopia's development goals, Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly called for a binding agreement on the rules for filling and operating the dam.
They fear that without such a pact, the dam could severely impact the flow of the Nile River, a lifeline for millions of their citizens.
Negotiations over the dam have stretched on for more than a decade without a resolution.
Despite the lack of accord among the three nations, Ethiopia unilaterally filled the dam in five stages between 2020 and 2024 and plans to inaugurate it in September.
Egypt announced the collapse of the GERD talks in December 2023, citing Ethiopia's rejection of proposed technical and legal frameworks.
In today's 2+2 Mechanism talks, Cairo and Khartoum agreed on the need to protect their water security, according to the statement.
They also reiterated their commitment to collaborating to protect their full water rights and uses in line with international law and the 1959 agreement between them, working under the principle of a community of shared interests and equal rights.
The two sides stressed that Sudanese and Egyptian water security are one indivisible part, reaffirming their complete opposition to any unilateral actions in the Eastern Nile Basin that could harm their water interests.
NBI and Entebbe Agreement
They also confirmed the need to continue joint efforts with the 1999 Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) countries to "restore consensus and return the NBI to its original foundation as a comprehensive cooperation mechanism that includes all basin nations."
The two parties reaffirmed their shared positions on the NBI and its consultative mechanism for countries not part of the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), also known as the Entebbe Agreement.
The CFA threaten Egypt and Sudan's historical rights of Nile water, which are based on the 1959 agreement between the two nations and the 1929 treaty signed between Egypt and Great Britain.
In their joint statement, Egypt and Sudan asserted that the NBI serves as the cornerstone for water cooperation that benefits everyone.
They also recognised the distinguished role of the Egyptian-Sudanese Permanent Joint Technical Commission for Nile Waters, which, in accordance with the 1959 agreement, is the body responsible for studying and formulating the unified stance of both countries on Nile water issues.
They underscored the need to ensure the commission's regular operation and to provide it with the necessary technical and logistical support to carry out its duties effectively.
Additionally, they emphasised the importance of holding the commission's next meeting in October on the sidelines of the Cairo International Water Week.
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