Addis Ababa, October 21, 2026 (FMC) — Egyptian analyst Magdi Khalil has condemned Egypt’s efforts to obstruct the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a mistake, exposed longstanding anti-Ethiopia narratives surrounding the Abbay (Blue Nile), and stressed the need to respect Ethiopia’s sovereign right to utilize its natural resources for development.
In an exclusive interview with the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Khalil said the GERD poses no threat to Egypt but is instead a development project intended to generate electricity. He expressed regret that Egypt had obstructed the construction of a dam designed to generate power, describing Cairo’s actions as a mistake.
He stressed that Ethiopia is one of the most important countries for Egypt because the Abbay River plays a vital role in sustaining life and supporting development in both countries. Recognizing this reality, he said, should compel Egyptian decision-makers to place Ethiopia among the countries with which Cairo must establish its closest relations.
Khalil criticized the persistence of conspiracy theories in Egyptian perceptions of Ethiopia, noting that fears of Ethiopia diverting the Abbay date back centuries. He said these entrenched historical narratives had fostered negative perceptions that continue to obstruct the development of relations between the two countries.
The analyst stressed that persistent negative perceptions and mutual suspicions have prevented Ethiopia and Egypt from improving their relations. He called for an end to this counterproductive thinking and urged both countries to adopt an approach grounded in cooperation, trust, and shared interests.
Khalil emphasized that Egypt can safeguard its water interests without denying Ethiopia its right to harness its natural resources for development and electricity generation. He stressed that one country’s gains should not come at the expense of the other.
He called for a mutual-benefit approach, describing it as a “win-win situation,” rather than a confrontational mindset in which one side seeks to prevail at the expense of the other.
According to Khalil, cooperation between Ethiopia and Egypt can generate shared benefits by taking Egypt’s water interests into account while enabling Ethiopia to utilize its resources to accelerate development and meet its energy needs.
Underscoring Ethiopia’s strategic importance to Egypt, Khalil said: “I consider Ethiopia the most important country for Egypt, the most important country, because where the waters of the Nile originate, life originates.”
Turning to the legal frameworks surrounding the Nile water dispute, Khalil challenged the validity of historical agreements invoked by Egypt in its position on Ethiopia’s water rights. He referred to the agreements of 1902 and 1929, as well as the 1959 agreement between Egypt and Sudan on the allocation of Nile waters.
Khalil recounted that Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had at one point summoned Egyptian legal expert Georges Abi-Saab, a former judge at the International Court of Justice, to obtain his assessment of the validity of historical Nile agreements under international law.
According to Khalil, Abi-Saab cautioned against relying on such agreements, citing legal principles concerning agreements concluded during the colonial era.
The analyst explained that such agreements generally do not carry the same legal standing as boundary agreements. He argued that the 1959 agreement between Egypt and Sudan cannot bind Ethiopia because Ethiopia was not a party to the bilateral agreement.
Khalil called instead for a new agreement that takes the interests of both Ethiopia and Egypt into account and conforms to international law and the principle of mutual benefit. He stressed that any such arrangement must respect Ethiopia’s right to development and utilization of its natural resources while taking Egypt’s water interests into consideration.
He further emphasized that strong relations between Ethiopia and Egypt require an end to hostile attitudes, suspicion, and confrontation. The two countries, he said, must establish a strategic partnership based on mutual respect and the principle of avoiding harm to either side.
Khalil concluded that a fair approach to the Nile water issue must recognize Ethiopia’s right to development and to utilize its natural resources while considering Egypt’s water needs. He maintained that cooperation between the two countries offers a constructive path toward stable and sustainable relations.