Ethiopia has announced plans to construct three new dams on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile River, sparking anger in Egypt, where there is concern that the projects will further increase water shortages when they begin operating. Nevertheless, the same projects will exacerbate Egypt's water scarcity problem by reducing the flow of Nile River water to the downstream state and consequently increase tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa, Egyptian specialists said. "These dams will increase water scarcity in Egypt in a serious manner," Professor Sharaky said. Critical timingEgypt is water-poor already, with the North African country's annual Nile water share, its principal fresh water asset, covering only a fraction of its needs. "Egypt has repeatedly clarified its opposition to the construction of dams on the Nile River without a binding legal agreement," Professor Sharaky said.

Source: Ethiopian News March 24, 2026 08:30 UTC