Ethiopia announces fresh Talks with Egypt and Sudan after filling of Mega-Dam

After completion of the fourth filling of the Dam, Ethiopia has again announced the commencement of a second round of talks with Egypt and Sudan concerning the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) situated on the Nile River.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement on September 23, 2023, confirming the start of the second round of tripartite negotiations among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.

The talks, focused on the annual operation of the GERD, took place in Addis Ababa. The announcement was disseminated via official government channels, including X, formerly known as Twitter.

Ethiopia’s foreign ministry affirmed its commitment to achieving a negotiated and amicable solution through the ongoing trilateral process.

This development follows Ethiopia’s recent declaration of the successful completion of the fourth and final filling of the Grand Renaissance Dam earlier this month. However, the move was met with immediate condemnation from Cairo, with Egypt categorizing it as an illegal action.

The primary concern of Egypt and Sudan revolves around the potential adverse effects of the massive $4.2 billion dam on their respective shares of Nile water. Both nations have consistently urged Addis Ababa to halt the filling of the dam until a comprehensive agreement can be reached.

Years of discord over the dam issue have strained relations between the three countries.

In a bid to resolve the impasse, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in a diplomatic breakthrough, agreed in July to expedite the negotiation process with the aim of finalizing a comprehensive deal within four months. Subsequently, negotiations resumed in August.

The protracted negotiations surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which have persisted since 2011, have yet to yield an agreement between Ethiopia and its downstream neighbors.