Egypt's Grand Imam, Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb has demand the international, Arab, Islamic and African communities to support Egypt and Sudan in preserving their water rights.

In a statement issued late Tuesday (15/6) night, El-Tayyeb has asked the international community to help address claims of ownership of the Nile by several countries that are considered detrimental to the lives of people from the two downstream countries of Egypt and Sudan.

For nearly a decade, Egypt and Sudan have been pushing for a comprehensive and legally binding agreement with Ethiopia over their near-complete dam, which is under construction on the Blue Nile, before starting a second filling next month. However, Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, has repeatedly refused to sign a binding instrument on the filling and operation of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and has instead sought to draft guidelines that can be changed at any time in its sole discretion.

Addis Ababa officials have repeatedly announced that they will fill the 74 billion cubic meter (bcm) GERD reservoir with 13.5 bcm from 22 July to increase the amount of water to 18.4 bcm, up from the 4.9 bcm secured in 2020, with or without agreement.

“All religions agree that ownership of natural resources necessary for human livelihoods, such as rivers, is public property, and it is not right in any case, and under any circumstances, to leave it to the property of individuals, individuals, or the state to have exclusive disposal. they do not include all the other countries participating in this natural resource," El-Tayeb was quoted as saying in Ahram, Thursday (17/6).

"The prohibition, cessation or restriction of (water) on others is a deprivation of one of God Almighty's rights and anyone who does so is unjust and an aggressor," said the leader of the Sunni Muslim world's top religious body, calling for authorities to be held accountable for their actions. local, regional and international levels to protect people's rights from abuse and corruption of natural resources.

He also praised the diplomatic efforts of Egypt and Sudan to adopt serious negotiations and seek to find a solution that protects the rights of all people, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Addis Ababa argues that the GERD problem is a matter of Ethiopia's national sovereignty. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri explained that there is no sovereignty when it comes to international rivers. The Foreign Minister also stressed that Egypt will not accept the harm caused by irresponsible behavior, and will vigorously defend its water rights.