Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met in Cairo on 13th July to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The 2 leaders agreed to initiate urgent negotiations to finalise the agreement on the filling and operation of the dam.
In a joint statement, the leaders said they would do “all the necessary efforts” to reach an agreement within 4 months. Ethiopia also reiterated its commitment not to harm Egypt and Sudan’s share of water during the filling of the dam.
The GERD is a controversial project that has been the subject of years of negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan. The dam is located on the Blue Nile, which is a major tributary of the Nile River. Egypt is concerned that the dam will reduce its share of Nile water, while Ethiopia sees the dam as a vital source of hydroelectric power.
The agreement reached by Al-Sisi and Ahmed is a significant step forward in the long-running negotiations over the GERD. If the 2 countries can reach a final agreement within 4 months, it would be a major achievement and would help to ensure the future stability of the region.
