He made his remarks during a conversation with African delegations participating in the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.
President El-Sisi noted that Egypt’s policy remains consistent, rooted in non-interference in the affairs of other countries and avoiding destabilization, according to a presidency statement.
Despite differences with Ethiopia, the president stressed that “Egypt has never issued threats,” maintaining that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and political solutions.
El-Sisi also highlighted the importance of robust infrastructure in Africa, describing it as a cornerstone for stability, conflict reduction, and sustainable development.
He underscored that such progress gives people hope and reiterated that political solutions, rather than military interventions, represent the most effective path to resolving crises.
The long-standing GERD dispute
The GERD, Africa's largest hydroelectric project, has been at the centre of a decade-long dispute between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.
Addis Ababa considers the dam vital for development and power generation, while downstream neighbours worry about reduced water flows.
Egypt and Sudan have called for a binding deal on the dam's filling and operation, a matter that Ethiopia has evaded throughout a decade of talks.
Egypt, which relies on the Nile for over 90 percent of its freshwater, has warned that the unilateral filling and operation of the dam pose a threat to its water security.
Sudan has echoed these concerns, saying that uncoordinated water releases could endanger its dams, agricultural planning, and flood management.
Ethiopia has, nonetheless, proceeded with filling and operating the GERD on the Blue Nile, formally inaugurating the project in early September, despite continued opposition.
In late September 2025, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam stated that the water Ethiopia stored during successive filling stages was taken from the legal shares of both Egypt and Sudan.
Sudan also blames the GERD for the floods that swept the nation in September.
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