Saudi Arabia reiterates support for Egypt, Sudan in preserving their ‘legitimate water rights’

CAIRO – 13 July 2021: Saudi Arabia reiterated, Tuesday its support for Egypt and Sudan in preserving their legitimate water rights and called the international community to find a mechanism to resume the negotiation process between the three countries.

Saudi Arabia also encouraged the three countries [Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia] to reach a solution that would achieve the interests of the Nile Basin countries under the auspices of the African Union and the Arab League.

Last week, Saudi Arabia affirmed, its support for Egypt and Sudan in preserving their "legitimate water rights", and stressed the importance of maintaining water security stability in Africa.

The Kingdom also praised all of Egypt and Sudan efforts to contain this crisis and attempt to solve it in accordance with the international law.

On July 8, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Sudanese counterpart, Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi delivered speeches at the United Nations Security Council, explaining the threats the Ethiopian dam poses on their peoples and water rights in case no binding agreement is reached among their three countries.

The UNSC member states’ ambassadors also affirmed the need for the quick resumption of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam talks under the auspices of the African Union and some offered help in the issue.

UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said the GERD parties still couldn’t reach an agreement on filling and operation of the dam despite their negotiations and previous Security Council recommendations.

He said the Arab League called on Ethiopia not to take any unilateral measures to fill GERD without reaching a binding agreement but in response Addis Ababa refused the AL statement and called on sticking to the AU mediation.