The Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry was responding to comments by his Ethiopian counterpart in an interview with the Associated Press Friday.

At this juncture we are depositing the issue with the security council with the desire that it undertakes its responsibilities.

“At this juncture we are depositing the issue with the security council with the desire that it undertakes its responsibilities.

If the security council does not undertake its responsibilities, this is even a greater threat to international peace and security”, the Ethiopian foreign affairs minister said.

Egypt, which relies on the Nile for more than 90% of its water supplies, sees the issue as a potentially existential threat.