Egypt has reported severe flooding across its northern Nile Delta provinces, blaming the crisis on what it describes as Ethiopia’s mismanagement of the newly inaugurated Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Ethiopia Launches Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Amid Strong Egyptian Opposition.
The rising water levels have intensified tensions along the Nile, as Cairo accuses Addis Ababa of disrupting the river’s natural flow.
According to Egyptian authorities, the floods have submerged vast areas of farmland and homes, sparking concerns for the safety of downstream communities.
The flooding has been most devastating in Beheira and Menoufia provinces, two of Egypt’s most fertile regions, particularly in the town of Ashmoun, where residents were urged to evacuate immediately.
Videos circulating on social media show residents wading through waist-deep water, while many homes built on canal silt deposits remain partially submerged.
Officials in Menoufia stated that a full damage assessment would be released soon.
Earlier this week, neighboring Sudan also experienced flooding along the Nile, which displaced hundreds of households in Khartoum.
The International Organization for Migration reported that about 100 families were forced to flee their homes.
In response to the rising waters originating from Ethiopia, Egypt discharged water from its High Aswan Dam, located more than 2,000 kilometers to the south, in an effort to manage the flood levels.
Ethiopia, however, has denied responsibility and insisted that the GERD has actually helped reduce flooding in the region.
Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa Geleta said, “The flood in Sudan could be from the White Nile. If GERD was not there, the magnitude could have been devastating. GERD played a significant role in reducing the catastrophic effect.”
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, inaugurated on September 29, is Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, valued at nearly $5 billion.
Built on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, the dam is expected to generate more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia’s power generation capacity.
Officials say it will help meet domestic energy demands and strengthen regional electricity exports.
During the inauguration, reservoir waters flowed through the turbines as Ethiopians gathered in Addis Ababa to watch the ceremony on large screens, celebrating with music and dance.
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called the project a “big achievement” that demonstrates “African capability.”
Dozens of African leaders attended the event, many expressing interest in importing electricity from Ethiopia.
The GERD has been a major source of diplomatic conflict for over a decade, with numerous failed negotiation rounds between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, all BRICS member nations.
The project’s completion and inauguration in September 2025 without a legally binding water-sharing agreement have further strained relations.
Ethiopia views the dam as essential to its economic growth and regional energy ambitions, while Egypt and Sudan have long warned that it could threaten their access to Nile water.
Ahead of its completion, Ethiopia reportedly tightened security around the GERD, acquiring the Israeli-made SPYDER-MR air defense system to protect the structure against potential sabotage or external attacks.
Egypt has repeatedly raised the issue before the international community, calling the dam an “existential threat” to its water security and accusing Ethiopia of imposing a “fait accompli” on downstream nations.
Ethiopian officials have dismissed these allegations as “unfounded and misleading,” emphasizing their commitment to the equitable and reasonable use of the Nile’s waters.
Following the recent floods, Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation stated that Ethiopia’s “reckless unilateral actions” pose a “direct threat to the lives and security of downstream populations” and violate international law.
Ethiopia, on the other hand, maintains that the dam has mitigated potentially devastating floods, particularly in Sudan.
Diplomatic discussions over Nile water rights continue, but tensions between Ethiopia and its downstream neighbors remain high.
Meanwhile, the United States has continued to adopt a neutral stance in the long-standing dispute, urging all parties to pursue a cooperative and sustainable resolution.
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Image Credit: Arab News
