Negotiations on the GERD come to an end

On December 19, 2023, the fourth and final round of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) concluded in Addis Ababa. This brings to an end the negotiation track that Egypt, Ethiopia and the Sudan launched to expedite the finalization of an agreement on the rules of filling and operation of the GERD within four months.

The meeting was unsuccessful due to Ethiopia's persistent refusal, that marked its posture over the course of recent years, to accept any of the technical or legal compromise solutions that would safeguard the interests of all three countries, including Ethiopia's pronounced interests, as well as Ethiopia’s consistent backtracking on the understandings that were reached.

It has become evident that Ethiopia elects to continue exploiting the negotiation process as a cover to solidify a fait accompli on the ground, while negotiating exclusively for the purpose of obtaining an instrument of approval from the downstream countries of an unregulated and absolute Ethiopian control of the Blue Nile, in isolation from Ethiopia's obligations under international law.

Given these Ethiopian positions, negotiation tracks have come to an end. Egypt affirms that it will closely monitor the filling and operation of the GERD and reserves its right, in accordance with international charters and accords, to defend its water and national security in the event of harm.