Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation issued a statement blaming the Ethiopian government for an artificial September flood that caused humanitarian disasters in Sudan and inundated low-lying Nile lands in Egypt's Delta. The statement described the management of the Ethiopian dam as unilateral and irresponsible, shifting the natural flood's timing and triggering a more severe deluge. Egypt affirmed its commitment to patience but kept all options open to protect its water rights.
In a statement from Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the country confirmed that the September flood was not natural but resulted from irresponsible management of an Ethiopian dam. According to the statement, "The unilateral and irresponsible management of the Ethiopian dam caused a shift in the timing of the natural flood—whose peak usually occurs in August—and triggered a more severe and violent ‘artificial, manufactured flood’ at a late time of the year (partially in September). This inflicted grave losses on our sister nation, Sudan, and threatened the lives and livelihoods of the peoples of both downstream countries."
A natural flood, typically peaking in early August, brings significant benefits as downstream nations prepare in advance using dams and barrages. In contrast, an artificial flood arises from unnatural water releases from dams to manage excess, leading to inundation along river courses, as seen in Sudan. This deluge arrived at the end of September, disrupting water calculations downstream and causing verified devastating losses.
Ethiopia has denied its blunder, which the statement portrays as reflective of aggressive intentions toward downstream countries and legally unjustified claims to water shares. Egypt reiterated its policy of long-term patience and dignified restraint, but emphasized that all options remain open in cases of grave harm, deeming the dam illegal and built on falsehoods. Cairo categorically rejected Ethiopia's policy of imposing faits accomplis on the Nile River, reserving the right to respond to protect its historical water quota, which cannot be diminished by a single drop.