Kuwait expresses support for Egyptian, Sudanese legitimate water rights

CAIRO – 8 July 2021: Kuwait expressed its support for Egypt and Sudan’s legitimate water rights, The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday., the State of Kuwait's support

Kuwait called upon the international community to intensify efforts, in coordination with the African Union and the League of Arab States, to start negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, so as to reach a solution that achieves the interests and rights of the three countries, the statement said.

Tunisia has prepared a draft resolution to be presented in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session taking place on July 8 on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis and to be voted upon later.

On July 8 session, parties involved, mainly Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia will present their visions on the issue, and the draft resolution will be submitted to the UNSC members.

The terms of the resolution proposed by Tunisia on behalf of the Arab League at the Security Council include:

1 – Demanding Ethiopia to cease the second filling of the GERD

2 – Demanding Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resume negotiations.

3 – Reaching a binding agreement on GERD in six months.

4 – Demanding the three countries to stop any measure that delays negotiations.

5 – Demanding Ethiopia to stop unilateral decisions.

The dispute among Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia dates back to May 2011 when Ethiopia started building the dam; Egypt voiced concern over its water share [55.5 billion cubic meters].

In 2015, the three countries signed the Declaration of Principles, per which the downstream countries should not be negatively affected by the construction of the dam.