Organization of Islamic Cooperation welcomes resumption of talks between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan on GERD

CAIRO – 15 July 2023: The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the resumption of negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

The General Secretariat stressed the importance of preserving water security for both Egypt and Sudan, refusing to prejudice the rights of all parties in the Nile waters.

Egypt and Ethiopia agreed to reach a final agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in a period of four months, according to a joint statement by both countries issued following a bilateral meeting between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday.

The two leaders reiterated their mutual political will to enhance the bilateral relations, politically, economically, and culturally, based on the common desire to achieve their mutual interests, and the prosperity of the two brotherly peoples. This will also actively contribute to the stability, peace, and security of the region, as well as the mutual ability to deal with common challenges.

The two leaders discussed means to overcome the current stalemate in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations.

In this regard, they agreed on the following points:

1- To initiate expedited negotiations to finalize the agreement between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan on the filling of the GERD and the rules of its operations, stressing they will do all the necessary efforts to finalize it in 4 months.

2- During the period of these negotiations, Ethiopia has indicated its commitment, during the filling of the GERD within the hydrological year 2023-2024, not to cause significant harm to Egypt and Sudan, so that the water needs of both countries are well provided.

Egypt and Sudan have been calling on Ethiopia to sign a legally-binding agreement to ensure the preservation of their water interests and people’s rights.

The two downstream countries have urged Ethiopia to refrain from unilateral measures with regard to the mega dam, warning of the consequences of filling and operating the dam unilaterally before a binding deal is signed.

However, Ethiopia has rejected the signing of such a deal and has continued its dam filling and operation plans over the past years. Ethiopia is also preparing to implement the fourth filling of the dam’s 74-billion-cubic-metre reservoir during the coming period despite the two countries’ objection.