Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says will mediate for GERD issue

CAIRO – 3 May 2021:  Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni pledged to contact the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abi Ahmed, as soon as possible, aiming at bringing all parties points of view closer on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam [GERD] and to start another round of ‘serious negotiations’ on this issue.

During meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Maryam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, Museveni praised Sudan's role in the African continent and its ‘peaceful initiatives’

According to Sudan News Agency [SUNA], Museveni stressed Uganda's support for ‘dialogue leading to the achievement mutual gains among all three parties of GERD.

He indicated that the correct approach to address the points of disagreement is to agree on a ‘specific strategic vision for managing the Nile waters.’

Ugandan President noted that filling and operating the dam requires consideration the environmental aspects as well. As he stressed on understanding Sudan’s stance which is calling for ‘productive negotiations’ leading to results that will satisfy all parties.

Sudan's Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas said, Monday that Khartoum will bear great losses if Ethiopia insists on conducting the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam [GERD] without reaching an agreement.

He added that Sudan faces potential threats of not being able to operate the Roseires Dam.

Abbas affirmed that legal teams in Sudan are willing to sue the Ethiopian government over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam if they started the second filling unilaterally

The Sudanese Minister of Irrigation added, that several visits to African countries will be conducted during the coming period in order to explain Sudan's position on resolving the Renaissance Dam issue.

He affirmed that his country is still adhering to resolving the issue through negotiations to protect water security interests.

Rounds of negotiations among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the Ethiopian dam (GERD) have reached a deadlock several times with Egypt blaming the failure on Ethiopia’s intransigence.

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, however, says it will complete the dam filling in July with or without an agreement.

Egypt on April 13 sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council, calling on the international community to engage in advancing the stalled GERD talks and persuade Ethiopia to refrain from unilateral acts.