(MENAFN) Egypt has formally alerted the UN Security Council over Ethiopia’s unilateral operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), saying the move amounts to a violation of international law, according to official statements.

In a letter addressed to the Council, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty condemned the inauguration of the GERD as “an unlawful unilateral act” that carries no legitimacy. The letter further stated, “Any misconceptions that Cairo would turn a blind eye to its existential interests in the Nile are pure delusions,” warning that Egypt “will not allow Ethiopia to impose unilateral control over shared water resources.”

The message emphasized that Cairo reserves the right to adopt all measures available under international law and the UN Charter “to defend the existential interests of its people.”

While highlighting that Egypt has consistently shown restraint and prioritized diplomacy, the foreign ministry accused Addis Ababa of “pursued intransigent positions, stalled negotiations, and sought to impose a fait accompli.” The statement also argued that Ethiopia’s latest actions represent “a new violation that adds to a long list of breaches of international law, including the Security Council’s presidential statement of Sept. 15, 2021.”

As of Tuesday, Ethiopia had not publicly responded to Cairo’s claims.

The inauguration of the GERD, located on the Blue Nile, marked the end of a 14-year construction project that has remained contentious among Nile Basin states. Work on the dam began in 2011 and has since fueled diplomatic disputes, with Egypt and Sudan raising concerns that the filling and operation of the reservoir could threaten their water security.

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