Egypt and Sudan reject Ethiopia's unilateral actions and affirm their positions regarding the Renaissance Dam

Egypt and Sudan issued a joint statement today, Wednesday, reiterating their rejection of what they described as "unilateral actions" by Ethiopia in managing the Eastern Nile file, emphasizing that these policies threaten their water rights and national security.

The statement came following the second round of the 2+2 consultative meetings of the foreign and irrigation ministers of the two countries, which were held in Cairo, where both sides confirmed that the consultations took place in a "friendly and positive atmosphere," and stressed their determination to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination in regional and international forums related to water rights.

The statement indicated that the discussions addressed developments regarding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, where Cairo and Khartoum considered that the unilateral steps in filling and operating the dam are "in violation of international law" and represent a "continuous threat to the stability of the Eastern Nile Basin," especially concerning safety risks, uncontrolled water discharges, and drought conditions.

Both sides confirmed that the issue of the dam remains confined to Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, rejecting the involvement of other basin countries in this dispute, while emphasizing that restoring cooperation requires Addis Ababa to amend its current policies.

The discussions also addressed the bilateral relations between the two countries, where both parties stressed the "eternal bonds" that unite their peoples, and affirmed their rejection of any threat to the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan, committing to enhance joint coordination to restore stability in Sudan.