Ethiopia Issues Statement on the Nile River and the Red Sea and Warns Against "Zero-Sum Approaches"

- The Ethiopian government issued a new statement on Monday regarding the Nile River water issue with Egypt, also discussing what it considered its "historical connection to the Red Sea," just a day after a quadripartite summit hosted by Egypt for the leaders of Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry stated in the announcement on Monday that Addis Ababa "is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and essential national interests, urging all active parties in the region to address common challenges through constructive dialogue, partnership, and adherence to good neighborly principles, rather than resorting to confrontation or adopting absolute 'win-lose' approaches (zero-sum outcomes)."

The statement also mentioned that Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile, "as it originates almost entirely in the Ethiopian highlands, contributing about 85% of the total flow of the Nile River," adding that "any discussion regarding the exploitation and management of the Blue Nile should be based on these essential facts." The statement also addressed what the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry described as Ethiopia's "close" connection to the Red Sea, "both geographically and historically," stating: "Despite changing political borders over time, Ethiopia remains closely linked to the Red Sea, with its nearest borders located no more than 30 miles from the coast."

The ministry added that "any serious discussion regarding regional maritime affairs and security structures must take into account Ethiopia's legitimate interests and its strong connection to the Red Sea." The Ethiopian statement emphasized that "these geographical and historical facts cannot be altered by political rhetoric, coercive measures, or destabilizing practices," adding that "actions taken through proxy parties or acts of aggression will not change the facts on the ground, nor will they diminish Ethiopia's legitimate interests or its role and responsibilities in the region."

On Sunday, the Egyptian city of El Alamein witnessed Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia issuing a joint declaration addressing issues related to the crises in Sudan, navigation in the Red Sea, and the unity of Somalia, alongside the water uses of rivers, particularly the Nile. The meeting was attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, the head of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The quartet also agreed to "emphasize the principle of freedom of navigation and that the governance of the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of the coastal states." They also stressed the "importance of respecting international law in transboundary rivers, including the Nile River, especially the principle of no harm, and the necessity of cooperation through prior notification, consultation, and consensus, and the complete rejection of any unilateral actions that harm the existing water uses of the Nile River's riparian states."

Ethiopian officials recently accused Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan of supporting armed opposition factions seeking to overthrow the government of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which the three countries denied. Addis Ababa announced last Thursday that it had declared a "Egyptian diplomat persona non grata," giving him 48 hours to leave the country, to which Cairo responded with a similar move.

The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry also announced its intention to close its embassy in the Eritrean capital Asmara, in response to what it described as "acts of hostility and direct and indirect escalation by Eritrea against Ethiopia," according to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA). For its part, the United States urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise restraint amid tensions between the two countries, warning that it could affect the entire region.