Al-Burhan and El-Sisi Welcome Trump Mediation to Resolve Ethiopia Dam Crisis
Egypt and Sudan have welcomed an initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump to resume mediation aimed at resolving the crisis over Ethiopia’s dam.
President Trump had offered to restart U.S. mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to address the issue of “sharing Nile waters” in a “responsible and final” manner.
Addressing Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Trump said the move stemmed from the spirit of their personal friendship and America’s commitment to peace and the well-being of the Egyptian people. He added: “We recognize the critical importance of the Nile River to Egypt and its people, and I want to help you achieve an outcome that ensures the long-term water needs of Egypt, the Republic of Sudan, and Ethiopia.”
Trump stressed that no country in the region should unilaterally control the Nile’s precious resources in a way that harms its neighbors. He said that with appropriate technical expertise, fair and transparent negotiations, and an effective U.S. role in monitoring and coordination among the parties, a lasting agreement could be reached for all Nile Basin countries.
He explained that such an approach would ensure predictable water releases during droughts and prolonged dry years for Egypt and Sudan, while enabling Ethiopia to generate large amounts of electricity—some of which could potentially be granted or sold to Egypt and Sudan.
Trump underscored that resolving tensions surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is among his top priorities, saying: “I am working tirelessly to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East and Africa.” He also expressed hope that the “entirely understandable” dispute over the dam would not lead to a major military conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia.
President El-Sisi praised Trump’s attention to the centrality of the Nile issue for Egypt, describing the river as the “lifeline of the Egyptian people.”
For his part, the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, affirmed Sudan’s welcome and support for President Trump’s initiative on Nile waters. In a post on X platform, Al-Burhan said: “The Government of Sudan welcomes and supports President Trump’s initiative and mediation on Nile waters to reach sustainable and satisfactory solutions that preserve the rights of all, contributing to lasting security and stability in the region.”
Meanwhile, President El-Sisi said on his official Facebook page that Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to serious and constructive cooperation with Nile Basin countries, based on the principles of international law and in a manner that achieves mutual interests without harming any party, noting that these are the constants underpinning Egypt’s position.
El-Sisi also sent a message to his U.S. counterpart outlining Egypt’s stance and concerns related to water security, affirming Cairo’s support for Trump’s efforts and its aspiration to continue close cooperation with him in the coming phase.