Nile Diplomacy: Ethiopia Defends GERD and Slams Egypt’s “Colonial Mindset”

Official Letter to the UN Security Council: Addis Ababa Asserts Sovereignty and Calls for Respect of International Law

Image: Ethiopian Foreign Minister Dr. Gedion Timothewos defends GERD in a letter to the UN Security Council, condemns Egypt’s “colonial mindset”

Charilogone – Addis Ababa, September 20, 2025. Ethiopia has formally responded to Egypt’s appeal to the United Nations Security Council regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), asserting its sovereign right to utilize the Nile River and denouncing Cairo’s “anachronistic” and “hegemonic” claims.

In a letter dated September 9, 2025, Ethiopian Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Gedion Timothewos hailed the GERD’s inauguration as a “generational aspiration fulfilled,” while firmly rejecting Egypt’s accusations of unilateralism and threats to regional stability.

A Firm Response to Egypt
 

Ethiopia’s letter, submitted directly in response to Egypt’s, challenges Cairo’s claims that the dam’s operationalization violates international law and jeopardizes Egypt’s water security. Egypt had stated that “Ethiopia’s purported inauguration of GERD constitutes yet another breach of its obligations under customary and conventional international law.”

Addis Ababa countered: “This joyous occasion marks the determination of the Ethiopian people to use the Abbay River to achieve development and prosperity.” The letter also emphasized the presence of African heads of state and regional organizations at the inauguration, signaling broad continental support.

Regional Commitment and Rejection of “Historic Rights”
 

Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to the 2015 Declaration of Principles and outlined its extensive negotiation efforts with Egypt and Sudan. It accused Egypt of obstructing dialogue and refusing to ratify the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), which came into force in October 2024 and enshrines equitable and reasonable use of transboundary watercourses.

Minister Gedion criticized Egypt’s reliance on “historic rights” and its argument that riparian countries cannot use the Nile due to Egypt’s arid climate. He called this stance “baseless and counterproductive,” urging Cairo to invest in sustainable solutions such as groundwater development and desalination.

A Blunt Denunciation

In one of the letter’s most pointed remarks, Gedion stated: “Egypt’s contempt for the dignity of sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia, is rooted in a view that privileges certain categories of people over others and has no place in the twenty-first century.”

Egypt had also referenced a non-binding advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which Ethiopia dismissed as irrelevant and lacking legal weight. For Addis Ababa, the GERD symbolizes African self-reliance and climate-conscious development, with the potential to inspire similar projects across the continent.

Finally, Ethiopia warned against Egypt’s “hostile posture” and destabilizing activities in the Horn of Africa, asserting that Egypt’s water projects “have no bearing whatsoever” on Ethiopia’s legitimate and equitable use of the Nile.

GERD Inauguration