Saudi Arabia stands with Egypt, Sudan on Nile water rights  

Saudi Arabia stands with Egypt, Sudan on Nile water rights  
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Saudi King Salman chairs the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia stands with Egypt, Sudan on Nile water rights  
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Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia, September 26, 2019. (Reuters)
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Updated 30 June 2020
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Saudi Arabia stands with Egypt, Sudan on Nile water rights  

Saudi Arabia stands with Egypt, Sudan on Nile water rights  
  • Kingdom says the water security of Egypt and Sudan is “inseparable” from Arab national security
  • The cabinet rejected any measure that would affect the rights of all parties along the Nile waters

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that the water security of Egypt and Sudan is “inseparable” from Arab national security.
The comments come as Ethiopia is threatening to start filling a reservoir on the Blue Nile that many claim will cut vital water supplies to the two countries downstream.

The Saudi Cabinet said during a meeting that the Kingdom stands with Egypt and Sudan to preserve their rights to the Nile and ensure their water security.

The meeting reviewed the Arab foreign ministers’ discussion on the Ethiopian dam last week.

The cabinet rejected any measure that would affect the rights of all parties along the Nile waters, stressing the need to resume negotiations to reach a fair agreement that takes into account the interests of everyone concerned. 

Egypt is seeking to prevent Ethiopia from starting to fill its massive, newly built hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile next month without an agreement governing how the dam will be filled and operated.