Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has sent a strong warning that any move to tamper with the Nile River without Cairo’s consent is a direct threat to Egypt’s very existence. In his words, anyone thinking the country will quietly give up its historic share of the water is “mistaken.”
At a press briefing in Cairo alongside Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Sisi broke down the numbers: the White and Blue Nile together carry around 1,600 billion cubic metres of water yearly — but most of that disappears into forests, swamps, or evaporates before even reaching the main river. In the end, Egypt and Sudan together get about 85 billion cubic metres — just 4% of the total flow. For Egypt, which barely sees rain, losing that share would be like cutting off its lifeline.
While Sisi says he supports other Nile basin countries using the river for farming, hydropower, and development, he made it clear: such projects must not choke Egypt’s water supply. He also accused some actors of trying to use water disputes to pressure Egypt into unrelated political concessions — something Cairo “completely rejects.”
His comments land at a tense time. Ethiopia is putting finishing touches on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) along the Blue Nile, with its inauguration set for September. Ever since construction began in 2011, Egypt has feared the dam could reduce downstream flows. Years of African Union and international mediation have failed to produce a binding deal on how the water will be shared. For Sisi, Egypt’s position remains firm: its Nile share is non-negotiable — no matter the pressure.
