Harare – In a significant development, Egypt and Ethiopia have reached a breakthrough on the contentious Blue Nile mega-dam issue, according to AFP. The two nations have agreed to finalize an agreement within four months, putting an end to years of tensions.
Since Ethiopia commenced construction on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in 2011, Egypt has been concerned about potential water scarcity from the Nile. However, a joint statement by the Egyptian president reveals that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in Cairo to discuss ways to overcome the impasse.
During their meeting on the sidelines of an African summit, the two presidents pledged to expedite negotiations and finalize the agreement between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan regarding the filling and operation of the dam. This decision marks a positive step towards resolving the long-standing dispute.
The urgency of resolving the Sudan crisis was highlighted at the conference’s opening session on July 13. President Sisi expressed his gratitude to regional leaders for recognizing the seriousness of the issue and their commitment to taking necessary actions. He emphasized the need for collective efforts and unified political positions among Sudan’s neighboring countries to facilitate a solution.
Although Sudan was not directly involved in the discussions, Mubarak Ardol, a former rebel commander and close supporter of the Sudanese army, expressed his support for the tentative dam agreement on Twitter. He stated that Sudan would soon join as a party to form a trilateral agreement without the need for external mediators.
The filling and operation of the dam have been the subject of prolonged negotiations since 2011, without reaching a consensus between Ethiopia and downstream nations. Egypt, heavily reliant on the Nile for 97% of its water supply, has viewed the dam’s construction as a significant existential threat.
The agreement reached by Egypt and Ethiopia brings renewed hope for the resolution of the long-standing Blue Nile dam dispute. Within the next four months, both nations will work together to finalize the agreement, ensuring the equitable distribution of water resources and addressing the concerns of all parties involved.
