Dam on the Nile: Egypt demands international mediation

After the failure of negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over a controversial mega dam on the Nile, Cairo called for international mediation, in a statement issued late Saturday (October 5th) by the Ministry of the Interior. 'Irrigation.

Egypt is concerned that the construction of the Great Blue Nile (GERD) dam on the Blue Nile, started in 2012 by Ethiopia, will reduce the flow of the river, of which it depends 90% for its water supply .

Cairo called for "the involvement of international mediation in the negotiations on the Renaissance dam", after further talks this week in Khartoum.

"The negotiations on the Renaissance dam are at an impasse," added the Egyptian ministry, as the Ethiopian delegation "rejected all proposals that take into account Egypt's water interests".

However, Ethiopia's Minister of Water and Energy Seleshi Bekele refused to speak of "stalemate", saying that outstanding issues could still be resolved.

"Defend your right to water"

In another statement, the Egyptian presidency called on the United States to play "an active role" in resolving the dispute, asserting the necessary intervention of a third country to "break the deadlock". Egypt is "determined to defend its right to water," said Saturday President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The White House on Friday expressed its "support" for the negotiations, calling on the three countries to "show good will to reach an agreement".

The message of Abdel Fattah al-Sissi

تابعت عن كثب نتائج الإجتماع الثلاثى لوزراء الرى فى مصر والسودان وأثيوبيا لمناقشة ملف سد النهضة الأثيوبى والذى لم ينتج عنه أى تطور إيجابى .. وأؤكد أن الدولة المصرية بكل مؤسساتها ملتزمة بحماية الحقوق المائية المصرية فى مياه النيل, 1/2

Ethiopian diplomacy said Cairo's request for international mediation was "an unjustified denial of progress" made during the negotiations. "This goes against the wishes of Ethiopia," she added in a statement.

The Blue Nile, which has its source in Ethiopia, joins the White Nile in Khartoum to form the Nile which crosses Sudan and Egypt, before flowing into the Mediterranean.

The Renaissance dam is expected to become Africa's largest hydropower plant with a production of 6,000 megawatts. Analysts say the lack of agreement between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt could lead to conflict between the three countries and have serious humanitarian consequences.

With AFP