Page 26 - Issue 9

Africa

Ethiopia start

filling dam in

July, even as

Egypt cries foul Ethiopia says it will begin filling a disputed dam, deal or no deal with Egypt and Sudan

t consultative meetings held Ethiopia downplayed Cairo’s call for Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue
Abetween 17-21 June, Ethiopia made UN intervention “The issues can be Nile is over 70% complete, and promises
it clear it want to begin filling the Grand solved without taking it to the Security to provide much-needed electricity to
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Council” foreign minister, Andargachew Ethiopia’s 100 million people. Egypt
reservoir in the coming, a matter said. seeks to protect its main source of
that Egypt has raised concerns about, Both countries have made clear in the freshwater for its large and growing
particularly regarding the plan of filing past that they could take steps to protect population, also more than 100 million.
the reservoir too quickly and without their interests, should negotiations fail,
an agreement that could significantly and experts fear a breakdown in talks Experts opine that Egypt will start
interfere with the amount of Nile water could lead to conflict. feeling the effects of the dam almost
available to Egypt. immediately Ethiopia starts filling the
After the technical talks on how to fill
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam GERD ended without a deal, Egypt, reservoir behind the dam. Further,
(GERD) is perhaps the most pressing Sudan and Ethiopia on Sunday said observing that Ethiopia should fill the
water issue for Egypt as the world talks would continue later in the month reservoir of the dam in extended years’
commemorates March 22, World Water to resolve their dispute, even as Cairo intervals so that Egypt does not feel
Day, a United Nations holiday that aims accused Addis Ababa of rejecting serious effects, with water reduction
to spark discussion on the importance “fundamental issues” at the heart of the to Egypt decreasing by somewhere
of freshwater and the sustainability of negotiations. from 12 to 25 percent during the filling
freshwater resources. Egypt’s Irrigation Ministry said in a period.
The controversy surrounded GERD statement that Ethiopia was looking Sudan has proposed that the Prime
began in 2011, immediately construction to renegotiate a number of points of Ministers of the tree countries be directly
on the project started. The Dam was contention, which “demonstrated that involved in the spat over controversy
expected to be completed in 2017; there are many fundamental issues that
meanwhile, negotiations between Egypt Ethiopia continues to reject.” and deal with the disagreements.
and Ethiopia have been ongoing since Meanwhile, a latest dispatch from the
then. Irrigation Ministry spokesman office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia’s
Mohammed el-Sebaei accused Ethiopia
Following the collapse of the technical of bogging down the talks with a new issued 26, June said “Egypt, Ethiopia and
talks, Egypt called on the UN Security proposal he called “concerning.” Sudan will agree a deal to fill the giant
Council to help resolve the row. “The Blue Nile dam in two to three weeks,
Arab Republic of Egypt took this Earlier, Ethiopia’s deputy army chief following mediation by the African
decision in light of Ethiopia’s negative had said his country will strongly Union to broker a deal to end a decade-
stances” Egyptian ministry said in a defend itself and will not negotiate its long dispute over water supplies.
statement. sovereignty.
It called on the Council to “intervene In February, talks ended in an Ethiopia’s water minister, Seleshi
and shoulder responsibilities to avoid acrimonious, after Ethiopia rejected a Bekele, said that consensus had been
any tension and maintain international U.S.-crafted deal and accused the Trump reached to finalise a deal within two to
peace and security”. This is the second administration of siding with Egypt. At three weeks, a day after leaders from
time Egypt has submitted a complaint to the time, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said the three countries and South African
the Council opposing Ethiopia’s plan to it would use “all available means” to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who chairs
fill the dam. The plan is also opposed by defend “the interests” of its people. the African Union (AU), held an online
Sudan. Construction of the $4.6 billion Grand summit.

26 | The Nile Explorer 009