Egypt, Sudan Back Trump’s Bid to Mediate Nile Dam Standoff

Egypt and Sudan have welcomed an offer by US President Donald Trump to mediate the long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the sharing of Nile River waters and the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in a post on X on Saturday, thanked Trump for his interest in the Nile issue, which he described as “the lifeline of the Egyptian people.” Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to constructive cooperation with Nile Basin countries in line with international law, stressing the need to protect the interests of all parties without causing harm.

Sisi said he had written to Trump to convey Egypt’s appreciation and to restate Cairo’s concerns over water security, while expressing support for renewed US-led mediation and a desire to work closely with Washington in the next phase of negotiations.

Sudan’s Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, also expressed support for Trump’s initiative, saying Khartoum welcomes the mediation effort aimed at achieving sustainable and mutually acceptable solutions that safeguard the rights of all parties and promote regional security and stability.

Trump had said on Friday that the United States was ready to restart mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve the prolonged disagreement over the dam.

The Nile River, stretching about 6,650 kilometres, is shared by 11 African countries, including Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. The GERD, located on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia, was inaugurated in September after more than a decade of construction.

Egypt and Sudan have consistently called on Ethiopia to agree to a legally binding tripartite framework governing the filling and operation of the dam, warning that unilateral actions could threaten downstream water security.