Unilateral GERD actions part of Ethiopian policy aimed at ‘exploiting int’l rivers’: Egypt

CAIRO – 10 March 2022: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Wednesday that the unilateral actions regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are part of an Ethiopian policy of unilateral exploitation of international rivers.

Speaking at the 157th ordinary session of the Council of the League of Arab States at the level of foreign ministers, Shoukry affirmed Egypt’s rejection of Ethiopia’s commencement of operating GERD last month unilaterally.

“This is considered a perpetuation on the part of the Ethiopian side in violating its obligations under the 2015 Declaration of Principles (DoP), after Ethiopia moved on with filling the dam unilaterally over the past two years,” he stated.

Ethiopia’s policy of unilateral exploitation of international rivers had caused harms to Ethiopia’s neighboring countries, Shoukry said, including Somalia.

Egypt looks forward to having the support of Arab countries and all international partners to urge Ethiopia to deliver on its pledges and have the spirit of cooperation, Shoukry said.

He affirmed the need that Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia agree without a delay on a fair and legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam in line with the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) presidential statement issued last September.

Also on Wednesday, Egypt and Sudan stressed the importance of moving forward to serious negotiations regarding the controversial dam under the auspices of the presidency of the African Union to lead a binding legal agreement that achieves the interests of the three countries.

The Egyptian and Sudanese situation was stated during a meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Sudanese foreign Minister-designate Ali Al-Sadiq Al, on the sidelines of the Arab League Council meeting.

Both Ministers called upon Ethiopia to actively engage in these negotiations as soon as possible, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry 

The two sides agreed to continue the ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and Sudan in all fields, the statement said.

They also stressed the continuation of coordination between the two countries regarding the challenges facing them, and the importance of coordinating their positions on regional and international issues of common interest.

The Egyptian and Sudanese sides also agreed on the importance of preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Sudan on its lands, emphasizing support for the ongoing efforts aimed at achieving sustainable stability in Sudan.