The Ministry of Water and Energy announced that Ethiopia can carry out similar actions on other rivers, just as it built the Grand Renaissance Dam without needing anyone's permission.
In an interview with the state-affiliated Pulse of Africa, Water and Energy Minister Dr. Habtamu Itefa emphasized that as a sovereign nation, Ethiopia does not need to ask for any country's permission to utilize its water resources or other natural resources. The Minister further underlined that the country has the full right to develop its internal resources.
This statement comes amid recent protests by Egyptian officials claiming that Ethiopia intends to construct three additional dams on the Nile River and stating that their country will not allow it. Egypt has strongly argued that Ethiopia must come to a binding agreement and that Egyptian permission is required to build additional dams or use the Nile water.
Rejecting Egypt's stance outright, the Minister stated, "We are an independent country; we have a people, land, government, and policy they don't understand this." He added that failing to understand this leads to a colonial mindset that has been opposed for generations, asking rhetorically, "Who is going to ask them for permission?"
Dr. Habtamu also pointed out that the Renaissance Dam's purpose is not to cause harm to other countries, but rather to generate electric power that benefits all countries in the region. Noting that the country currently supplies electricity to neighboring Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan, the Minister mentioned that power demand is also coming from Somalia and South Sudan.
Additionally, while calling for cooperation and coordination among Nile basin countries, the Minister angrily dismissed the demand for joint management of the dam, stressing that developing water resources is a national issue.
Meanwhile, Egypt is extensively utilizing the Nile water to develop numerous deserts, create cities and development sites, and current information shows that this year it will resettle many citizens in new locations using the river's water. In his statement, the Minister dismissed these external influences and objections, asserting that Ethiopia will continue its development works without any interference.
