Egypt has officially announced its agreement to South Sudan’s planned Fula hydroelectric dam project after reviewing comprehensive technical and environmental studies. The announcement, delivered on Sunday by Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam, comes in an effort to clarify recent public remarks made by South Sudan’s energy leadership regarding sovereign rights over Nile River development.
The clarification follows statements by South Sudan’s Energy and Dams Minister, Agok Makur, who asserted earlier in the week that Juba was fully prepared to move forward with plans to construct dams—including the Fula project—without fearing opposition from downstream nations like Egypt. Speaking to journalists in Juba on Thursday, Makur emphasized that South Sudan operates as a sovereign member of the Nile Basin and holds the legitimate right to develop its natural resources for electricity generation.
“We are not afraid to build our dams because we have a right and we are sovereign, and also South Sudan is part of the Nile Basin,” Makur stated, adding that the Nile Basin Council of Ministers had greenlit 34 projects, with Egypt participating in the approval framework.
Minister Sewilam addressed these remarks during a press briefing in Cairo, explaining that Makur’s statements had been partially misinterpreted across various media channels. He clarified that the Fula hydropower project was part of a broader portfolio of 36 projects submitted under the Nile Basin Initiative framework. According to Sewilam, Cairo thoroughly evaluated the designs, documentation, and impact assessments associated with the proposals before rendering a decision.
“We found that these effects can be tolerated, so we agreed on all the projects, including four dams,” Sewilam told reporters, explicitly confirming Egypt’s clearance for the Fula development.
The Egyptian official drew a clear distinction between Cairo’s collaborative stance on the Fula project and its long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). While Egypt has continuously opposed the filling and operation of the GERD without a legally binding agreement, Sewilam maintained that relations with South Sudan and other southern Nile Basin nations are rooted firmly in mutual cooperation. He rejected the notion that the Fula project would spark a diplomatic rift between Cairo and Juba.
The proposed Fula hydropower installation is situated along the Nile River close to Nimule within South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State. Expanding electricity generation through domestic hydropower remains a core component of Juba’s national infrastructure strategy. Minister Makur noted that his ministry has already briefed President Salva Kiir Mayardit on construction preparations, drawing expressions of strong interest from international investors and foreign diplomats.
The Nile Basin Initiative continues to serve as the primary institutional framework bringing together Nile riparian countries, including both Egypt and South Sudan, to coordinate management and foster joint cooperation over the shared river system. Meanwhile, political developments in Juba remain fluid, with reports indicating that President Kiir could potentially dissolve the national unity government.
