Arab Parliament Denounces Ethiopia's Unilateral Operation of GERD

On Monday, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament Adel bin Abdul Rahman Al-Asumi, condemned Ethiopia’s announcement to unilaterally initiate the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

In a statement, the Speaker stressed his complete rejection of such a step, which represents a serious violation of the water rights of Egypt and Sudan, and represents a clear violation of international and bilateral agreements that regulate the use of the Nile River water. , including Ethiopia’s commitments signed by the Ethiopian Prime Minister in the 2015 Declaration of Principles.

Al-Asumi reiterated the Arab Parliament’s firm position regarding the necessity of quickly reaching a binding legal agreement to fill and operate the Renaissance Dam, without harming the water interests of Egypt and Sudan.

He also voiced the Parliament's firm support to Egypt and Sudan in preserving their water rights, as they are an integral part of Arab national security.

On Sunday, Egypt confirmed in an official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, Sunday, that the step of operating the GERD unilaterally is a further violation by the Ethiopian side of its obligations under the 2015 Declaration of Principles Agreement signed by the Ethiopian Prime Minister.

“Egypt Foreign Ministry warns that Ethiopia, solely, launching the dam operations, is a breach to the Declaration of Principles signed in 2015,” the statement said.

This statement came in response to the Ethiopian announcement today, Sunday, of the unilateral start of operating the Renaissance Dam, after the previous unilateral start of the first and second phases of filling the dam.