Ethiopia: Egypt Must Accept New Reality, Adjust Approach for Win-Win Nile Deal - Tibor Nagy

What the report says

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy told Pulse of Africa that Egypt should adapt to a changed regional balance and acknowledge Ethiopia’s right to develop its water resources, according to an Ethiopian News Agency report distributed by AllAfrica. Speaking from Addis Ababa in an interview published Sept. 3, 2026, Nagy argued that Cairo can no longer rely on its historical leverage over the Abay/Nile to set the terms of talks.

Nagy said Egypt has long acted as though it had near-complete control over Nile-related decisions, even though it is a downstream state. He described Ethiopia as being in a rapid nation-building phase and said its use of natural resources should not be treated as a threat. In his view, a durable settlement would require Egypt to enter negotiations with a different mindset and to recognize the rights and interests of all parties.

He also linked the Nile debate to Ethiopia’s wider regional position, including its long-standing push for access to the sea. Nagy characterized that goal as legitimate and said the country’s historical connection to the Red Sea should be better understood. The comments reflect continuing political sensitivity around the Nile, where water rights, regional influence and development priorities remain central to disputes between Ethiopia and Egypt. AllAfrica’s report attributes the remarks to the interview rather than original reporting by 256 Newsroom.