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Ethiopia announced on Saturday that it would start filling the reservoir with its gigantic dam on the Nile “within the next two weeks”. Addis Ababa has nevertheless pledged to try to conclude, under the aegis of the African Union, a final agreement with Egypt and Sudan.
Negotiations are continuing around the Great Renaissance Dam (Gerd) on the Nile. Ethiopia announced on Saturday June 27 that it intends to start filling the reservoir of its gigantic dam “in the next two weeks”, while committing to try to conclude, under the aegis of the African Union, a final agreement with Egypt and Sudan, worried about the consequences of the project.
The statement issued on Saturday morning by the office of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed partially contradicts Friday night statements by Egyptian and Sudanese leaders ensuring that Ethiopia had agreed to postpone the impoundment of its dam until an agreement was reached.
Ethiopia sees the 145-meter-high dam – which is to become the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, with a production capacity of more than 6,000 megawatts – as essential for its development and electrification. Sudan and Egypt fear it will restrict their access to water.
“Existential” threat
Egypt, which sees the project as an “existential” threat, last week called on the UN Security Council to intervene. A new Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday.
On Friday, the leaders of the three countries met during a videoconference organized and chaired by the South African head of state Cyril Ramaphosa, President in office of the African Union (AU).
In the evening, the services of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reported a “final legally binding agreement aimed at preventing any unilateral action, including the impoundment of the dam”.
Same tone on the side of Khartoum where, according to Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, it was “agreed that the impoundment of the dam would be postponed until an agreement is reached”.
But in its press release Saturday morning, Addis–Abeba does not mention a postponement as such and seems to stick to its schedule, while saying it is ready to continue discussions for a final agreement.
Involvement of the African Union
Ethiopia has been reluctant to involve third parties in the negotiation process, particularly after the US administration attempted mediation at the request of Egypt, which ended in February with a failure, Addis Ababa accusing in particular the United States of favoring Cairo.
In its statement on Saturday, Ethiopia welcomed the involvement of the African Union in the dossier, reaffirming that “African questions must find African solutions”.
The AU stressed in a statement on Saturday that “90% of the questions relating to the tripartite negotiations (…) had already been resolved” and called on the countries concerned to “refrain from any declaration or any action which could complicate or undermine the AU process aimed at finding an acceptable solution to the outstanding issues. “
The Nile, which flows over some 6,000 km, is an essential source of water and electricity for a dozen countries in East Africa. Egypt gets 97% of its water needs from this river.
With AFP
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