Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has warned that he will keep “all options open” over a giant hydroelectric dam that Ethopia is building on the Blue Nile but is “not calling for war”.
In a televised speech to cheering supporters, Mr Morsi voiced understanding for the development needs of poorer nations upstream in the Nile basin, but said Egyptians would not accept any reduction in the flow of the river on which their civilisation has been based for millennia.
Egypt was apparently caught by surprise last month when Addis Ababa started diverting the Blue Nile, a tributary of the Nile. The £3 billion Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of power. “Egypt’s water security cannot be violated at all,” Mr Morsi said. “As president of the state, I confirm to you that all options are open.” Describing Ethiopia as a “friendly state”, he said Cairo was pursuing all political and diplomatic avenues for a solution.
Last week, Egyptian politicians were inadvertently heard on live TV proposing military action over the dam.
Analysts claim Mr Morsi could be using the issue to distract attention from severe domestic political and economic challenges.