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AfrElec POLICY AfrElec

The Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam (GERD)
Photo by Khaled Desouki/
AFP via Getty Images

Egypt’s FM meets UN Horn of Africa envoy to

discuss GERD, Somalia, Sudan

EGYPT EGYPT’S Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry decade-long impasse between Ethiopia, Egypt
met with the UN special envoy for the Horn of and Sudan, but the countries will first have to
Africa, Hanna Tetteh, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, agree to a joint plan.
on February 16, on the sidelines of the African In addition, Shoukry and Tetteh discussed
Union (AU) Executive Council. other issues related to peace and security in
Shoukry reiterated Egypt’s position regard- the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia.
ing the necessity of reaching a legally binding Shoukry highlighted the common under-
agreement on the filling and operation of the standing between Egypt and Somalia, which
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as resulted in the Somali president’s visit to Egypt The agreement
per a statement issued by the Egyptian foreign in July, and Egypt’s historical role in supporting
ministry. Somalia. should factor
Though it is shared by 11 riparian coun- They emphasised the need for all the interna-
tries, Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia dominate the tional partners to collaborate in joint efforts to in the interests
contesting debate over the Nile water resource. stabilise the situation in Somalia by activating
Shoukry emphasised that the agreement should the role of the African Union Mission in Soma- of all three
factor in the interests of all three countries lia (AMISOM) and facilitating aid deliveries countries involved
involved and ensure that Egypt’s water rights are from international NGOs.
preserved. The bilateral meeting also covered the recent and ensure
The GERD has a storage capacity of about developments in Sudan. Shoukry affirmed Cai-
74bn cubic meters of water and about 6,450 MW ro’s support to achieve consensus among the that Egypt’s
power generating capacity. It will double Ethio- Sudanese political forces and ensure the success
pia’s electricity generation capacity and earn as of the transitional period to overcome the cur- water rights are
much as a billion dollars annually from energy rent challenges and restore stability in the coun- preserved.
exports to neighbouring countries. try currently governed by a military junta.
A new study conducted by a group of Brit- Tetteh commended Egypt’s efforts to support
ish scientists and published by Nature offers an peace and security in Sudan and Somalia and
original solution that, for the first time, consid- expressed her interest in continuing consulta-
ers the dynamic factors brought about by climate tions with Egypt to coordinate future concerted
change. The research could finally break the actions.™

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