Ethiopia: Asserts Sovereign Dam Building Rights, Rejects Nile Monopoly

• Ethiopia asserts its sovereign right to construct dams within its territory for various purposes without external approval.
• Ambassador Zerihun Abebe stated Ethiopia rejects Egypt's monopolistic approach to Nile waters, basing its position on state sovereignty and equality.
• Ethiopia's stance is supported by its interpretation of international law and historical examples of other nations developing shared rivers.
• Ethiopia does not recognize the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement between Egypt and Sudan as binding on its rights.
• Ethiopia criticizes past unilateral water projects by Egypt and Sudan, noting it was not consulted on their development.

Ethiopia has every right to construct dams, whether for irrigation, hydropower, domestic use, or industrial purposes, anywhere and at any time within its territory.

Ethiopia has unequivocally asserted its sovereign right to develop its water resources and construct dams for various purposes within its own territory. Ambassador Zerihun Abebe, Director General for African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, articulated this firm position, emphasizing that Ethiopia rejects any attempt by Egypt to maintain a monopolistic approach to the Nile waters. This stance is fundamentally rooted in the principles of sovereignty and equality among states.

Ambassador Zerihun clarified that Ethiopia possesses the inherent right to build dams for irrigation, hydropower generation, domestic consumption, or industrial uses, at any time and location within its borders. He stressed that Ethiopia is not obligated to seek permission from any other nation to undertake development projects within its sovereign domain. This perspective is informed by Ethiopia's interpretation of international law and the established historical practices of states developing water resources along shared river systems.

To underscore its position on Ethiopia dam construction international law, Ambassador Zerihun Abebe cited numerous international examples where nations have developed shared water resources without external approval. He pointed to China's extensive dam construction along the Mekong River, the United States' management of major waterways like the Colorado and Rio Grande, and Turkey's development of the Euphrates and Tigris river systems. These instances serve to illustrate that no external entity can legitimately impede Ethiopia's right to utilize its water resources for its national development objectives.

Furthermore, the legal and diplomatic dispute involves differing interpretations of historical agreements. Ethiopia has consistently rejected the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement, a bilateral accord between Egypt and Sudan documented in United Nations treaty records, as a legitimate basis for determining its rights over the Nile waters. Ethiopia maintains that this agreement, forged without its participation, cannot dictate its sovereign actions concerning its own water resources.

Ethiopia has also critically reviewed the past unilateral water development activities of downstream nations. Ambassador Zerihun specifically highlighted Egypt's construction of the High Aswan Dam and its associated Toshka diversion projects, noting that these were undertaken without consultation with upstream riparian states. Ethiopia has previously voiced similar concerns at the United Nations regarding these projects.

Similarly, Ambassador Zerihun referenced various Sudanese dams, including Roseires, Merowe, and Jebel Aulia, as well as projects within the Setit and Atbara river systems, underscoring that Ethiopia was not involved in their development. Against this backdrop, Ethiopia rejects the argument that its own water development projects should be subject to approval by downstream countries, even as Egypt continues to express concerns that upstream projects could affect downstream water security. This forms a core aspect of the ongoing Ethiopia Egypt water dispute.

The calls for Ethiopia to seek permission from Cairo before undertaking water development projects were condemned by Ambassador Zerihun Abebe, who characterized such an approach as stemming from a colonial-era conception of relations among African states. He firmly underscored the principle that all states are equal in the contemporary global order.

Ethiopia asserts sovereign dam building rights and will continue to exercise these rights without external interference. This resolute stance reflects a commitment to national development and the equitable utilization of shared resources, rejecting any notion of a Nile water monopoly and affirming its place as an equal partner in regional water management.

Lawyers advising on infrastructure development or project finance in Ethiopia, particularly concerning water resources, should note Ethiopia's firm stance on its sovereign right to build dams without external approval. This position impacts risk assessments and legal strategies for projects potentially affected by international water law disputes or historical agreements Ethiopia does not recognize.

Source: Original reporting via ENA