Page 5 - AfrElec Annual Review 2021

AfrElec JANUARY AfrElec

and unrest merely serve to worsen relations
between Egypt and Ethiopia, and do not foster refused to resort to official arbitration.
a climate of co-operation that is needed for the Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water said this week
GERD talks to succeed this month. that while welcoming the resumed efforts at
Both sides are in effect accusing the other of talks, “Ethiopia won’t agree to a GERD deal
using domestic and regional unrest to potentially that in any way restricts its right to use the Nile
derail the GERD talks. waters.”
Ethiopia could have to deal with accusations Addis Ababa wants to have unrestricted
of human rights abuses and possible sanctions access to exploiting Nile waters on its territory,
from the international community as refugees and does not want to be bound by any agree-
from the area stream across Sudan’s borders. ments with Sudan or Egypt that would regulate
Finally, on December 31, Sudan warned Ethi- or restrict that use.
opia against proceeding with the second stage of Sudan supports Egypt in bringing in the
the dam’s filling without reaching an agreement African Union to mediate. It views the dam both
with Khartoum and Cairo. positively, as it will control seasonal flooding, but
When Ethiopia began filling the GERD reser- also negatively, as water flows could be reduced.
voir in summer 2020 Sudan and Egypt said that Ethiopia wants the HPP to provide electricity
water levels in the Nile fell. for the development of the country, and hence to
become a regional power exporter.
Water worries It insists that water supplies to its neighbours
Downstream states Sudan and Egypt are worried will not be affected.
that water management and power generation The talks will feature meetings of water
operations at the dam in Ethiopia will damage experts from all three countries, building up to a
water flow in the River Nile, threatening the meeting of ministers on January 10.
economies of both countries. Despite support from South Africa and other
The negotiations have centred on the filling regional mediators, the prospects for any break-
and operation of the giant dam, as well as the through seem bleak while the GERD project is
legal mechanism to solve any future disputes. still seen as a political matter whose flames can
Ethiopia has stated it wants to reach a tri- be fanned by the region’s security issues.
partite deal with the other two countries, while While Addis Ababa will proceed with com-
Egypt and Sudan have wanted to bring in outside pleting the dam, it will remain a bone of con-
arbitration, such as the US, the African Union tention with Khartoum and Cairo, potentially
and the European Union. Addis Ababa has damaging the project’s economic future.™

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