US discusses with Ethiopia importance of continued dialogue to peacefully resolve GERD dispute

CAIRO – 8 April 2021: National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discussed with Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen the importance of continued dialogue to peacefully resolve the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue.

As they spoke via phone, they “discussed the importance of continued dialogue among regional leaders, with the support of the African Union, to peacefully resolve current disputes related to the al-Fashaga border and the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam,” a White House statement read on Thursday.

Sullivan expressed the Biden Administration’s “grave concern about the continued humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Tigray region,” the statement read.

Sullivan and Mekonnen discussed “critical steps to address the [Tigray] crisis, including expanded humanitarian access, cessation of hostilities, departure of foreign troops, and independent investigations into atrocities and human rights violations.”

Sullivan stressed that “the United States is ready to help Ethiopia address the crisis, building on our longstanding bilateral partnership and friendship.”

The phone call comes amid growing tensions among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the massive dam.

Rounds of negotiations among the three countries have reached a deadlock several times.

Egypt and Sudan insist that a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam should be reached before Ethiopia implements the second phase of dam filling.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, reiterated that it would complete filling the dam in July whether an agreement is reached or not.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday urged Ethiopia to cooperate with Egypt on the water file, saying “all options are open” in the event of any harm to a single water drop.

“I tell our Ethiopian brothers: we should not reach the point that you mess with a water drop in Egypt, because all options are open,” Sisi said, while inaugurating the secured and smart documents complex.