Page 12 - AfrElec Week 20 2021

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Sisi courts French support

for GERD position

EGYPT EGYPTIAN President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has which allowed the testing of the first two tur-
stressed to French President Emmanuel Macron bines of the dam. This year, it is targeting filling
that he is determined to preserve his country’s an additional 13.5 billion cubic meters.
water rights from the River Nile. The dam is expected to become the largest
Visiting Paris, he said that that would reach hydroelectric power station in Africa, with an
“legal” and “fair” agreement over the filling and expected capacity of 6,500 MW, to meet the
operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance needs of Ethiopia’s 110 million people.
Dam (GERD) Sudan and Egypt, however, insist on reaching
Sisi was in Paris to promote democracy a legally binding agreement that preserves their
in Sudan and to agree with African leaders water rights and averts further tensions and
on financing to aid Africa’s post-COVID-19 instability in the region.
recovery. Meanwhile, during Sis’s visit to Paris he
In talks with the French government, Sisi received support from Senegal for his positions
said he was keen to reach agreement with Addis on (GERD).
Ababa. Sisi and his Senegalese counterpart Macky
According to presidential spokesman Bas- Sall agreed this week on joint coordination on
sam Rady, Sisi highlighted Egypt’s keenness to the Renaissance Dam issue and on stronger eco-
consolidate and deepen the extended strategic nomic ties.
partnership with France, as an “important pillar In Paris, the two African leaders said they
to preserve security and stability in the Middle would continue to exchange views on GERD to
East region.” avoid potential risk to the security of the region.
Sisi also met with head of Sudan’s Transitional Sisi and Sall also agreed on enhancing trade,
Sovereign Council Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Bur- investment, and providing technical assistance
han, during which they agreed on the utmost and capacity building.
importance of the water issue and considered For his part, the Senegalese President praised
GERD “a matter of national security.” Egypt’s efforts towards comprehensive develop-
Ethiopia It announced in 2020 that it had ment and putting its expertise and capacities in
completed the first phase of filling the dam, the service of African nations.™
achieving its target of 4.9 billion cubic meters,

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