New round of Egypt-Ethiopia GERD talks kicks off in Addis Ababa
4 Min Read
The reinitiation of talks concerning GERD follows an agreement made in July between Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
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In this June 28, 2013 file photo, construction work takes place, at the site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near Assosa, Ethiopia. (AP)
A new series of negotiations began in Addis Ababa on Sunday, involving Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, to reach an agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). This current round of talks builds upon the discussions in Cairo on August 27-28.
The reinitiation of talks concerning GERD follows an agreement made in July between Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This agreement committed the three nations to finalize a dam agreement within a four-month timeframe, as outlined in a joint statement.
In recent comments, Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, affirmed Egypt's commitment to these negotiations, emphasizing a sincere desire to reach a mutually advantageous and equitable agreement.
Read next: Ethiopia to start third filling of GERD in August: Manager
Egypt's announced primary objectives include the protection of its national interests, ensuring water security, and safeguarding the rights of its citizens while also recognizing the legitimate interests of Ethiopia and Sudan.
Sewilam stated that such an agreement should serve as a catalyst for development and prosperity for all three nations.
In this context, Sewilam emphasized that Ethiopia's unilateral resumption of GERD filling, without a pre-established agreement governing filling and operation in accordance with the 2015 Declaration of Principles, constitutes a breach of international law.
This unilateral action has cast a negative shadow over the ongoing negotiation process and poses a threat to its ultimate success, according to the minister.
Egypt and Sudan have consistently urged Ethiopia to commit to a legally binding agreement concerning GERD, one that would safeguard their water rights and respective interests.
The downstream nations have consistently voiced their concerns regarding any unilateral actions pertaining to GERD. Nevertheless, Ethiopia has proceeded with the filling and operation of the dam despite the objections raised by Egypt and Sudan.
What you need to know
Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia had resumed negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Cairo, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
In mid-July, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed agreed to resume negotiations on the GERD and to make every effort to reach a deal within four months.
"Negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) resumed this Sunday morning in Cairo. Delegations from Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Sudan participated in a new round of talks," the ministry said in a statement.
During the negotiations, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam stressed the need to reach an agreement on the rules for filling and operating the dam that would be fair and equitable to all three countries.
"He reaffirmed Egypt's conviction that there are multiple technical and legal solutions that meet the needs and interests of all three countries and that would enable reaching the requisite balanced agreement," the ministry said.
Ethiopia began construction of the GERD in 2012. The dam is expected to generate significant amounts of hydroelectric power, but it has also been controversial due to concerns about its impact on water availability in Sudan and Egypt. The three countries have held over a dozen consultations aimed at resolving these concerns, but they have yet to reach an agreement.
Tensions between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt reached a boiling point in the summer of 2020 when Ethiopia unilaterally began filling the reservoir of the GERD without reaching an agreement with the other two countries. Ethiopia completed the second stage of filling the reservoir in July 2021, and the third stage in August 2022.
