U.S Call for Immediate Resumption of AU Negotiations Between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan

On Friday, the United States expressed grave concern with regard to the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and urged the resumption of the African Union (AU) negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan without further delay to find a resolution to the crisis.

In this regard, the US State Department called for the resumption of negotiations without further delay and urged the key players to negotiate in good faith.

According to an official statement issued on Friday by the US State Department, the Forging Affairs institution asserted that Egypt and Sudan’s worries over water security, the safety, and the operation of the dam “can be reconciled with Ethiopia’s development needs through substantive and results-oriented negotiations among the three African countries under the leadership of the AU, which must resume urgently”.

“We believe that the 2015 Declaration of Principles signed by the African parties and the July 2020 statement by the AU Bureau are important foundations for these negotiations," the statement added.

"On this basis, the US is committed to providing political and technical support to facilitate a successful outcome," the American administration noted.

According to international reports, the second filling aims to collect around 18.4 bcm of Blue Nile water, up from the 4.9 bcm secured during the first filling last year.

Notably, Egypt, which depends on the Nile for about 97 percent of its irrigation and drinking water, sees the dam as an existential threat.

On the other hand, Sudan, the second downstream country, fears its own dams will be compromised if Ethiopia proceeds with filling the dam before a deal is reached.

Also in this regard, Egypt and Sudan are well aware of the persistence and stubbornness of the Ethiopian authorities in not accepting any compromise.

Therefore, both Arabian countries believe that only international security effective decision can guarantee the development of negotiations and enforce the Ethiopian side to change its aggressive policy towards Egyptians and Sudanese, according to African reports.