Page 5 - AfrElec Week 23

AfrElec COMMENTARY AfrElec

supplies from the dam. the three countries signed a declaration of prin-
Sudan’s call for talks comes after it rejected in ciples in 2015 concerning construction and
May Ethiopian proposals to break the impasse operations, the three have since failed to reach
by signing a separate two-sided agreement any agreement, leading to mediation by the US
between the two countries to allow the filling of in February 2020.
the GERD’s dam.
Sudan rejected the offer and instead asked Looking ahead
Ethiopia to resume the stalled US-brokered The talks are intended to take place between June
negotiations on the issue. 9 and 13, and the international observers want
all sides to reach a full agreement on filling and
Washington talks operating the dam.
The flurry of declarations this week comes after However, both Egypt and Ethiopia have not
US-brokered talks between Egypt and Ethiopia, yet given any indication that they will compro-
dubbed the Washington process, ended in failure mise, despite Sudanese efforts to push forward
February when Ethiopia withdrew. the talks.
Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt had been expected Egypt’s comments were especially strong,
to sign an agreement in Washington on the fill- accusing Ethiopia of failing to keep to the 2015
ing and operation of the dam, which Ethiopia agreement.
currently says is 73% complete. Ethiopia now insists that it will go ahead with
With the withdrawal of Ethiopian officials, completing the dam and filling the adjacent
citing the need to consult with their government, reservoir with or without the agreement of its
only Egypt signed the agreement. neighbours.
Addis Ababa claims the $4bn GERD project The current talks have started badly, with
will provide much-needed hydropower for the claims and counter-claims. It is difficult to see
country and neighbouring Sudan, although how any breakthrough is likely this week, given
Cairo claims that water supplies will be nega- the impasse that has existed since the Washing-
tively affected downstream in Egypt. ton talks and the lack of any offer of compromise
Construction began in 2011, and although from either side. ™

Week 23 11•June•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P5