Ethiopia's Water and Energy Minister, Habtamu Itefa, asserted that Cairo's long-standing diplomatic maneuvers to manage the Blue Nile and restrict Addis Ababa's maritime access are losing their impact. Speaking to the Ethiopian News Agency, Itefa advised Egypt to rethink its historical posture toward its upstream neighbor rather than continuing to resist Ethiopian development initiatives. He argued that the successful construction and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have fundamentally changed the hydro-political landscape in the region.
Itefa emphasized that Ethiopia contributes 86 percent of the river's total flow, yet Egypt had previously tried to limit Ethiopia's use of these water resources. According to the minister, the post-completion reality of the dam contradicts earlier Egyptian warnings about reduced downstream water availability. He explained that water continues to reach Egypt after passing through the dam's turbines, maintaining steady flow. Additionally, he pointed to environmental initiatives, such as the Green Legacy Initiative planting over 56 billion seedlings in the Baro-Akobo and Abay basins, as factors that bolster the watershed and maintain water flow.
The minister also addressed the geopolitical aspect of Ethiopia's relationship with the Red Sea. He suggested that Egypt had been successful in isolating Ethiopia from the sea by supporting Eritrea's separation during the EPRDF-led government, a period when the UN Secretary-General was Egyptian. Itefa noted that while previous administrations avoided asserting maritime rights, the current leadership has formally revived the national demand for seaports. He argued that with a population of 130 million and a growing economy, Ethiopia's security imperatives justify its push for maritime access.
Itefa further contended that Egypt's criticism of Ethiopian unilateralism is inconsistent, as Cairo has built massive infrastructure projects like the Toshka and New Valley schemes without consulting upstream states. He emphasized that Ethiopia is committed to shared regional growth, noting that Kenya and Djibouti are already receiving electricity generated by the dam. He added that Somalia and South Sudan are seeking expanded energy integration, reinforcing the idea that cooperation is the backbone of development in the region.