Egypt slams Ethiopia over GERD 'politicisation' accusation

Egypt slammed Ethiopia on Wednesday for accusing Cairo of "politicising" a controversial mega-dam that has long been a source of tension between the two countries.

Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamdi Loza decried an allegation by Addis Ababa's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga that Cairo is trying to politicise the issue of Nile River water and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Cairo is wary of the dam because Egypt relies heavily on the Nile for its water supply.

"The ongoing Ethiopian claim of Egypt's politicisation of the issue of the Renaissance Dam is an attempt to evade legal responsibility and a disregard for the principles of international law and good neighbourliness," Loza said in a statement on his ministry's Facebook page.

"The continuation of the negotiations for 10 years without result is evidence of Ethiopian intransigence."

Ethiopia, which says it has completed 90 percent of the work on the GERD, is preparing to fill the dam for the fourth time, a step expected in May and June.

"It is regrettable that Ethiopian officials continue to express their readiness and desire to resume negotiations under the auspices of the African Union in a new attempt to buy time and continue filling [the GERD] without an agreement," said Loza.

Arga, the Ethiopian state minister, had said "Egypt's attempt to politicise the Nile water and the Renaissance Dam will not benefit any party".

He said on Tuesday that Addis Ababa has a "firm position on the necessity" of continuing three-way negotiations with Egypt and Sudan under African Union auspices.

Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Meles Alem said Egypt and Sudan "know" that the GERD will not negatively impact them.

"In conjunction with any mobilisation, a campaign is launched against us to distort our image and show us as a country that does not respect international laws. This is a way to divert attention from their internal political situation," he added.