Nile dam: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan postpone commissioning

The dam on the Nile in Ethiopia, September 26, 2019. REUTERS / Tiksa Negeri

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The Egyptian presidency announced Friday that Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed to postpone the impoundment of a gigantic dam built by Ethiopia on the Nile, the subject of a conflict between the three country.

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"  A legally binding final agreement to prevent unilateral action, including the impoundment of the dam, will be sent to the United Nations Security Council for consideration at its meeting on Monday on the issue of Great renaissance barrage  , "said the services of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said in a statement that it had been "  agreed that the filling of the dam would be postponed until an agreement was reached  ".

His services said that technical commissions from the three countries were going to set up an agreement within two weeks.

"  Sudan is one of the main beneficiaries of the dam, but also one of the big losers if the risks are not limited, which is why it reminds Egypt and Ethiopia of the absolute need to find a solution,  "added Mr. Hamdok.

This advance came after an emergency meeting and videoconference of the Executive Council of the African Union, chaired by the South African Head of State Cyril Ramaphosa.

Tension has been mounting lately between Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt when Ethiopia announced its intention to fill the reservoir of the Great Renaissance Dam (Gerd), after the failure of tripartite negotiations .

Egypt, which sees the project as an "existential" threat, last week called on the Security Council to intervene. A new Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday.

If Ethiopia sees the 145-meter-high dam as essential for its development and electrification, Sudan and Egypt fear that it will restrict their access to water.

The Nile, which flows over some 6,000 km, is an essential source of water and electricity for a dozen countries in East Africa. Egypt gets 97% of its water needs from this river.

(With AFP )

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  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
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