A former U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia, Tibor Nagy, has called on Egypt to abandon what he described as “bullying tactics” in its ongoing dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, Nagy warned that Egypt’s attempts to pressure or isolate Ethiopia have been counterproductive. “I know from experience that Ethiopia cannot be bullied, and the more you push, the more immovable they become,” he said. “It’s time to accept today’s reality.”
Nagy, who also served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, urged Cairo to shift from political confrontation to constructive, professional engagement. He argued that progress could only be achieved through technical dialogue rather than politicised rhetoric.
Egypt, which depends on the Nile for most of its freshwater, has long opposed the GERD, fearing that the massive hydroelectric project could threaten its water security. The dam, which Ethiopia began building in 2011, was inaugurated on September 9 as Africa’s largest, with a power generation capacity exceeding 5,000 megawatts.
Addis Ababa proceeded with the inauguration without reaching a new agreement with Egypt and Sudan, both of which have opposed the project from its inception. Analysts say the dam has effectively ended Egypt’s historic dominance over Nile water distribution, which had given it a near-monopoly for decades.
The GERD is also seen as part of Ethiopia’s broader strategic ambitions, including renewed interest in gaining access to the Red Sea—an outlet lost when Eritrea gained independence in 1993.
Despite years of African Union-led and international mediation, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have yet to finalize a binding agreement on the dam’s operation and water-sharing mechanisms.
Nagy’s remarks add to growing diplomatic calls for de-escalation and renewed cooperation. He emphasized that Egypt should “move beyond the political drama” and pursue solutions that balance the interests of all three nations.
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Observers say his comments reflect wider international frustration over how political posturing has hindered meaningful progress in resolving the decade-long dispute.
Source:Africa Publicity
