(5 minutes read)
· Sudan and Egypt are optimistic that talks with Ethiopia on the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)Add New dam would be fruitful
· Significantly, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli made his first official visit to Sudan since the formation of a transitional government in Khartoum last year
· He held talks with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok
· Both the heads of states endorsed the view that negotiations are the only way to resolve the problems of the dam and exuded optimism that there would be a trilateral negotiated settlement
Sudan and Egypt are optimistic that talks with Ethiopia on the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dam would be fruitful. The talks were called off last week because of the differences among the negotiating parties. Ethiopia insisted that the negotiations should address sharing the waters of the Blue Nile. There are threat perceptions among Sudan and Egypt if the dam comes up, affecting flow of water to their areas. Ethiopia considers the dam is crucial for its electrification and for the development of the region that includes eight countries including Egypt and Sudan. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is mediating negotiations as the present chairman of African Union.
Significantly, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli made his first official visit to Sudan since the formation of a transitional government in Khartoum last year. He held talks with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Both the heads of states endorsed the view that negotiations are the only way to resolve the problems of the dam and exuded optimism that there would be a trilateral negotiated settlement. Ethiopia had put forward a draft proposal earlier this month. However, the proposal lacked a legal mechanism for settling disputes.
Since 2011 Nile River Basin has been a source of tension between the three countries on account of the mega dam. The differences among the countries can be dated back to the late 1920’s when Egypt and Sudan invoked historical rights over the waters of River Blue Nile based on two treaties entered into: one on 1929 and the other in 1959. The two countries invoked these two treaties to establish historic rights over the waters of River Nile. Ethiopia is basing its assertion over waters of River Nile on a treaty signed in 2010 by six riverside countries. That treaty excluded Egypt and Sudan as stakeholders in the treaty.
