A statement by the Egyptian presidency said that it was agreed to form a committee of experts and jurists from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, international parties and the African Union to formulate a final binding agreement on the Renaissance Dam.
The statement - issued after the conclusion of a summit meeting between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia and the African Union presidency to discuss the Renaissance Dam crisis - agreed that "refrain from any unilateral measures, including filling the dam, before reaching an agreement."
The statement stressed that the atmosphere of the summit "was very positive and constructive and the Security Council will be notified of these developments," and that the aforementioned committee will be attended by representatives of the member states of the African Union Presidency Office and international bodies monitoring the dam negotiations.
The statement said that the meeting parties agreed to send a letter on the results of the African Summit to the Security Council for consideration when holding its session on the Renaissance Dam on Monday.
UN Security Council
On Friday, the African Union concluded an emergency meeting at the level of the Heads of State of the Union's office, namely South Africa, Kenya, Mali, Egypt and Congo, with the participation of Ethiopia and Sudan, to discuss the Renaissance Dam crisis.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abi Ahmed said that the discussions that took place in this meeting were "fruitful", and that the meeting discussed "African solutions to the dam crisis".
The meeting is considered a proactive step for the next Security Council meeting next Monday, in order to confirm the role of the African Union in resolving the Renaissance Dam crisis, as South Africa as the current president and member of the UN Security Council strongly opposed the Egyptian and American request to hold an open session of the UN Security Council on the Renaissance Dam crisis.
She pointed out that the file of the Renaissance Dam is not within the jurisdiction of the UN Security Council, and that negotiations are still ongoing between the three countries, and therefore there is no need for a meeting of the Security Council.
Vital importance
Earlier, Sudan called on the UN Security Council to discourage all parties from any unilateral measures, including starting filling the dam reservoir before reaching an agreement.
Ethiopia says the electricity expected to be generated from the dam is vital to pushing for development projects in the country of more than 100 million people.
On the other hand, Egypt sees the dam as a threat to its water security and opposes filling and operating rules that Ethiopia intends to implement.