By Staff Writer
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Minister of Water and Energy has stated that Ethiopia does not need to seek anyone’s permission to utilize its water resources, adding that just as the country built the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) without seeking approval from any nation, it can do the same on other rivers.
Minister Habtamu Itefa (PhD) emphasized that Ethiopia is a sovereign nation and does not require the consent of any other country to develop its water or other natural resources.
The Minister’s remarks respond to recent statements by Egyptian officials who claimed that Ethiopia plans to build three dams on the Nile River, but that Egypt would not allow such construction. Egyptian officials also stated that Ethiopia should enter into a binding agreement and that any additional dam construction or utilization of Nile waters would require Egypt’s permission. Minister Habtamu firmly rejected this position, asserting that Ethiopia will not seek permission from anyone.
“Ethiopia is a sovereign country. We have a people, we have land, we have a government, we have a policy—and these are not understood,” the Minister said. He added that failure to recognize this reflects a colonial mentality, and questioned: “Who says we should go asking for their permission?”
The Minister further stated that just as Ethiopia built the GERD without anyone’s permission, it will also build on other rivers without seeking consent from any party. “We are a sovereign nation, and we will not ask permission from anyone to develop our natural resources,” he reiterated.
The Minister also called for cooperation and coordination among Nile Basin countries but firmly rejected calls for joint management of the dam, emphasizing that developing water resources remains a national matter.
He noted that Ethiopia currently supplies electricity to neighboring countries, including Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan, and that Somalia and South Sudan have also expressed interest in purchasing power.
Egypt has utilized Nile waters to develop vast deserts, creating cities and development zones, and reports indicate that Egypt used the river’s waters this year to settle many of its citizens in new areas.
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