In response to Egypt's request, the Security Council does not have much it can do in the Renaissance Dam crisis

The French Ambassador to the United Nations, Nicolas de Riviere, said yesterday that the UN Security Council will likely meet next week to discuss the dispute between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile.

De Riviere, council president for the month of July, noted that the council had little it could do other than bring the parties together to express their concerns, and then encourage them to return to negotiations to find a solution.

"I don't think the council can do more than that," he said.

Last week, Egypt called on the Security Council to immediately and urgently consider the crisis of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, because this crisis could pose a threat to international peace.

The Arab countries called on the council last month to meet to discuss the issue of the dam and Ethiopia's plans to implement the second phase of filling its reservoir this summer without an agreement with Sudan and Egypt.

Ethiopia is not interested in the intervention of the Security Council and has instead requested that the Council refer the issue to the African Union.

Ethiopia has previously rejected calls from Egypt and Sudan to involve mediators outside the African Union.

Ethiopia pins its hopes for economic development and electricity generation on the dam, while Sudan and Egypt are concerned and are seeking a binding agreement on filling and operating the dam.

Egypt depends on the Nile River for up to 90% of its fresh water, and considers the dam an existential threat.

Sudan is concerned about the operation of its dams on the Nile and water stations.

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