Khartoum seeks to reach a diplomatic solution to GERD: Sudanese FM

CAIRO – 31 July 2021: Khartoum is seeking to reach a diplomatic solution to the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis, said Sudanese Foreign Minister Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi in a meeting with her Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra on Saturday.

 

She affirmed her country’s firm position towards a binding legal agreement on filling and operating the controversial Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

 

The Algerian Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs said that his country seeks to address the Renaissance Dam crisis by positively pushing the will and confidence of the concerned parties towards negotiations.

 

On 28 July 2021, Sudanese Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas said Sudan will not resume the GERD negotiations with the same previous methodology.

 

In press remarks on Wednesday, Abbas said Sudan is adhering to its demand to involve an international quartet in the GERD negotiations to enhance the role of the African Union (AU).

 

The international quartet includes the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and the AU.

 

Abbas said the exchange of information on the filling and operation of the massive dam is essential, affirming that a legally-binding agreement is needed in this regard.

 

Ethiopia announced the completion of the second phase of filling the GERD reservoir, although Egypt and Sudan have rejected this step unless a binding agreement among the three countries is reached.

 

Egypt and Sudan argue that a comprehensive, binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam is essential to secure their water interests and people’s rights in the River Nile, which both countries mainly rely on for water.

 

During his remarks to the press, Abbas said the second phase of filling the dam only added four billion cubic metres of water at most, which is much less than what Ethiopia announced.

 

Abbas said the GERD would be beneficial to Sudan if information on GERD is exchanged in accordance with a legally-binding agreement.

 

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.