Egypt: Ethiopia’s recent GERD statements disclose bad intentions, efforts to undermine mediation efforts

CAIRO – 20 May 2021: Egypt slammed recent Ethiopian remarks reiterating the unilateral plans to complete the Grand Dam (GERD) filling despite the absence of an agreement with Egypt and Sudan, saying it reveals Ethiopia’s bad intentions and efforts to undermine the ongoing mediation efforts.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry earlier today said it plans to start generating power from GERD in the upcoming rainy season between June and August.

The Egyptian ministry said its statement comes in response to Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti’s reiteration that his country will implement the second dam filling even if the three countries do not reach an agreement on the filling and operation of the dam.

Egypt reiterates rejection of potential Ethiopian unilateral actions on GERD, the statement said, reaffirming objection to Ethiopia’s planned step to unilateral implement the second phase of GERD filling this Summer.

The Ethiopian spokesman’s remarks “reveal again Ethiopia’s bad intentions and its endeavor to undermine the ongoing efforts by international and African mediators to resolve the GERD crisis,” the Egyptian ministry said.

The ministry added that the Ethiopian remarks also show the latter’s “desire to impose the fait accompli against the downstream countries, a matter that Egypt did not and will not accept”.

“Egypt has adhered to patience and dealt with wisdom and sense of responsibility and has negotiated over a decade with seriousness and good intentions to reach a fair, equitable, legally-binding deal on GERD that achieves the mutual interests of the three countries and secures Egypt’s water rights,” the ministry said.

The Ethiopian side, however, “has adopted a policy that is based on procrastination, which has led to the failure of all negotiations paths, which took place during the past years,” the ministry added.

The Egyptian ministry described Ethiopia’s step to implement the second filling of the dam unilaterally as “irresponsible” and a “flagrant violation of the 2015 Declaration of Principles.”

The ministry also warned that the unilateral filling will put the two downstream countries in big dangers, especially if it coincided with drought periods.

The Egyptian ministry voiced support to Sudan in this file “that touches the core of mutual interests of both countries.”

The ministry said implementing the second filling of the dam unilaterally “may cause harm to the Sudanese water institutions and dams, which lie close to the Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile”.

Eventually, the ministry affirmed that the Egyptian state is committed to protecting the Egyptian rights and water interests against any harm.

“The state has already taken precautionary measures to deal with the second filling of the Renaissance Dam and limit its probable impacts to secure Egypt’s needs of water resources during this period,” the ministry said.

“This comes in parallel with continuing to monitor the Ethiopian actions and watch them closely to ensure no harm is caused to the Egyptian water interests and its rights that are approved and confirmed by the international laws, agreements and norms”.

The ministry’s remarks come a day after Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the country can deal with the second dam filling through adherence to strict measures in managing water resources.

Shoukry’s remarks were hailed by the Ethiopian side that has claimed that the dam filling would not harm the two downstream countries.