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Egypt has revealed that the recent discussions on the US$4,2 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have not been successful, however, it intends to closely monitor the procedures for filling and operating the dam.
The GERD is a massive hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia which has been a source of regional tension, particularly with downstream countries like Egypt and Sudan.
According to a statement by Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, “Egypt reserves its right, in accordance with international charters and accords, to defend its water and national security in case of any harm.
“The meeting was unsuccessful due to Ethiopia’s persistent refusal . . . to accept any of the technical or legal compromise solutions that would safeguard the interests of all three countries,” the Egyptian statement said.
Ethiopia’s foreign ministry in a statement also said Egypt had “misrepresented” Ethiopia’s positions in the talks, adding that Egypt’s “colonial era mentality and erected roadblocks against efforts toward convergence”.
“Ethiopia remains committed to reaching an amicable and negotiated settlement that addresses the interests of the three countries and looks forward to the resumption of the negotiation,” the foreign ministry statement said.
Reuters reported that, in July, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced intentions to finalise a deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) within four months. However, years of intermittent negotiations have not yielded success.
Egypt, heavily reliant on the Nile for water, has opposed the dam over fears of future water shortages. — Business Insider Africa
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter