Sudan, Ethiopia to Renew Agreements over GERD Soon

Today, Sudan and Ethiopia renewed their agreement to resume negotiations on the Renaissance Dam in the "very near future."

This came during a joint session of talks between the Ministers of Irrigation, the Sudanese Yasser Abbas and the Ethiopian Minister Slichi Mitli.

Khartoum announced that it would freeze negotiations over the GERD, objecting to the way it is taking place, calling for a greater role for experts and mediators to contribute in resolving the crisis between Cairo, Addis Ababa and Khartoum.

The Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation, in a statement, said that the two ministers agreed, during the meeting that took place in the Sudanese capital, to continue negotiations soon, taking into account to grant a role for African Union experts to bring the views of the three countries closer, in consultation with the President and the African Union Secretariat.

The Sudanese Minister of Irrigation, said in a media statement, "It is not possible to operate the Rossiris Dam safely after the construction of the Renaissance Dam without exchanging water information.

The minister added, "There has been no progress in the Renaissance Dam negotiations in the past, and Egypt and Ethiopia have backed away from their positions."

Also, the minister stressed that "the Renaissance Dam reduces the devastating floods and increases the rates of electricity generation in Sudan."

Furthermore, he warned that the Declaration of Principles agreement concluded years ago stipulates that the Renaissance Dam is only for mobilization and operation and not for establishing projects.

He declared that "the continuous drought will affect the generation of electricity in the Sennar reservoir and the Rossires dam because of the Renaissance Dam."

The Ethiopian Minister of Irrigation and Energy concluded an official visit to Sudan, aimed at resuming the Renaissance Dam negotiations.

The visit, which the minister started on Monday, came after the visit of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok to Ethiopia. During the meeting, Khartoum and Addis Ababa agreed to resume the Renaissance Dam negotiations next week.

Egypt and Sudan are locked in arduous negotiations with Ethiopia to agree on the mechanisms for operating the dam that Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile, and Cairo fears its impact on its share of water.