Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia to Hold Round of Talks for 1 Week over GERD

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed to hold a new round of talks for one week to discuss controversial issues in a years-long dispute over a dam Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile.

The foreign and water resources ministers of the three countries held an online meeting on Sunday, which was chaired by South Africa as a mediator.

The planned round of talks will be attended by observers as well as experts appointed by the African Union Commission, according to a statement by Egypt's Foreign Ministry.

Another six-party meeting will be held under the chair of South Africa after to look into the outcome of this round, it said.

During Sunday's meeting, Egypt asserted the need to strike a deal over the disputed dam before the start of the second phase of filling the its reservoir.