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Egypt, Sudan strengthen

common front against Ethiopia

EGYPT EGYPT strengthened its united front with Sudan preferred to stick to the current AU-led talks,
during joint talks at the weekend on the dispute which have so far failed to break the deadlock.
with Ethiopia over the construction of the Grand Ethiopia bases its position on the Declara-
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). tion of Principles agreement, signed by all three
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met countries in 2015, which called for Sudan, Egypt
Sudanese officials in Khartoum on March 6 to and Ethiopia to agree on operational rules and
discuss ongoing differences with Ethiopia. guidelines.
Sisi stressed the importance of reaching a The talks in Sudan follow a recently signed
‘fair, balanced and legally binding agreement’ as military co-operation deal between Egypt and
soon as possible, according to a statement from Sudan.
the Egyptian Presidency following a joint press Sisi’s praised in his statement the two coun-
conference with the President of the Sudanese tries’ historical bond and their “shared destiny”
Sovereign Council. in the face of the GERD threat from Ethiopia.
He renounced the idea of a ‘fait accompli’ Talks since 2011 have so far failed to achieve a
approach, by which Ethiopia’s decision-making binding agreement, with both sides blaming the
would not involve Egypt and Sudan, despite the other for not showing faith in the talks and for
effects GERD would have on the two nations. failing to keep previously made agreements.
Sisi also said he aimed to “relaunch the path The $4.8bn hydropower project, which is
of negotiations” and to involve an “international set to be completed in 2022, has the potential to
quartet” of mediators, including the African boost Ethiopia’s economy and provide enough
Union (AU), the US, the EU and the UN. clean electricity to lift millions out of poverty.
These groups have so far attempted to broker However, Egypt is worried about water sup-
an agreement on how to resolve disputes over plies from the Nile. It has claims to 55.5bn cubic
the dam, and how to managed the filling of its metres per year of water, which are based on a
reservoir. series of treaties dating back to 1902.
Sisi’s comments come a week after Ethiopia Ethiopia, on the other hand, claims that the
said it opposed Egypt and Sudan’s proposals to dam is crucial for its economic growth, and that
give a stronger role the US, the EU and the UN. water flows to downstream countries Egypt and
Ethiopia’s foreign position was that it Sudan would not be affected.™

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