CAIRO – Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed appreciation for U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to mediate the ongoing Nile River water conflict with Ethiopia, highlighting Egypt’s deep concerns over water security tied to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
In a statement on X, Sisi reaffirmed Cairo’s stance amid fears that the $5 billion project threatens vital downstream water supplies for Egypt’s 110 million people and agriculture, which depend almost entirely on the Nile. Trump announced his readiness on Friday to revive U.S.-led talks, building on prior efforts that collapsed in 2020, as Ethiopia pushes forward with the dam to double its electricity output for over 120 million citizens.
Sudan’s army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan echoed support for the mediation on Saturday, voicing worries about the dam’s impact on its own dams and water regulation. Ethiopia, rejecting Egypt’s claims, views the GERD on the Blue Nile as essential for economic growth and insists it poses no existential risk downstream. The dispute centers on filling schedules, drought-year releases, and binding agreements, with all parties now eyeing U.S. involvement to avert escalation.