Dr. M. Salah El-Din responds to the lies of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 13 years of stalling do not give Ethiopia the right to falsify facts

The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement packed with accusations and distortions, claiming that Egypt is running a campaign to destabilize the Horn of Africa, and describing Egypt’s insistence on its water rights as a “colonial mentality.”
In reality, this statement belongs in the trash bin. It is nothing more than yet another attempt to escape internal failure and cover up 13 years of stalling, deceit, and manipulation in the GERD file— ending with Egypt’s decision to withdraw from meaningless negotiations.

First:

If there is any country threatening the stability of the Horn of Africa today, it is Ethiopia — the same state that:
• Ignited a civil war in Tigray.
• Entered border conflicts with Sudan.
• Threatened Somalia’s sovereignty and still seeks access to the sea by force.
• Uses the same cheap tactics with Eritrea.
• Built a massive dam on an international river without an agreement, in clear violation of international law.

So, accusing Egypt of destabilization is nothing but a transparent attempt to export Ethiopia’s own crises.

Second:

The talk about a “colonial era” is nothing more than political propaganda used by Ethiopia to escape an obvious truth:

Egypt is not relying on colonial treaties, but on well-established international law and on a historical and existential right — a country that depends entirely on one river with no alternative water source.

Egypt has never blocked Ethiopia’s development, nor objected to the dam in principle. It only demanded a legally binding agreement that guarantees no harm to downstream countries.

Where exactly is the “colonial mentality” in asking for an agreement that protects the lives of millions?

Third:

For 13 years:
• Ethiopia signed the Declaration of Principles in 2015, then backed out of it.
• Agreed to negotiate, then withdrew dozens of times.
• Promised an agreement within months, then continued unilateral filling nonstop.
• Rejected any legal commitment, rejected international mediation, and even rejected neutral experts.

Accusing Egypt of intransigence is simply a reversal of facts.

Fourth:

Egypt depends on the Nile for 97% of its water.
Even a small reduction means:
• Destruction of agriculture.
• Threatening food security.
• Losing millions of jobs.
• A direct threat to life in a country of more than 100 million people.

For Egypt, the Nile is a matter of life or death.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia has:
• Over 12 rivers.
• More than 900 billion m³ of rainfall annually.
• Massive, unused groundwater resources.

So how can Egypt be accused of “monopolizing” a river when Ethiopia owns vast alternative resources?

Fifth:

Yes, countries do not need permission to use internal resources —
but the Blue Nile is not an internal river, nor the property of one state.
It is an international river governed by binding principles:
• No significant harm
• Equitable and reasonable use
• Prior notification
• Mandatory cooperation

These are not Egyptian inventions — they are established norms of international law endorsed by the United Nations.

Sixth:

Egypt has offered everything possible:
• Patience for 13 years.
• Endless negotiations.
• Willingness for fair compromises.
• Technically sound proposals endorsed internationally.

But Ethiopia must understand that the Nile’s water is not up for bargaining, and Egyptians will not allow it to become a tool of pressure on their existence.

The Ethiopian statement clearly reflects fear of Egypt’s consistent and unified position — hence the distortion and fabrication.