Egypt FM decries Sudan’s accusations that Egypt is eating into its share of the Nile water

Sudan’s statements on Egypt using more than its fair share of Nile water are “inaccurate,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said yesterday, Al Masry Al Youm reports. Sudan has been receiving its full annual 18.5 bcf of Nile water for several years now, Shoukry said, clarifying that it’s true that in previous years Sudan didn’t have the capacity to receive its full share, which led to it being rerouted to Egypt with both countries’ knowledge and consent. This added capacity had in turn put pressure on the Aswan High Dam, despite Egypt’s efforts to redirect towards other destinations such as the Toshka project. Tensions have been flaring since discussions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reached a stalemate, when both Sudan and Ethiopia refused to acknowledge the results of environmental impact studies confirming that GERD would impact Egypt’s Nile water share. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said earlier this week that Egypt was unwilling to compromise on the matter. He is expected to meet with Ethiopia’s prime minister in Cairo in December in an effort to reach resolution.