Congolese President lauds Egypt’s efforts to reach balanced solution on Renaissance Dam

CAIRO – 11 March 2021: Congolese President Félix Antoine Tshiseked, the current president the African Union lauded Egypt’s efforts to reach a balanced solution regarding Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam, which takes into account the interests of all sides.

During a phone call with President Abdel Fattah el Sisi, Thursday Tshisekedi affirmed Congo’s keenness on upgrading cooperation with Egypt in various fields, especially amid Egypt’s key role to maintain security and stability and achieve development in Africa.

According to Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi, President Sisi said that Egypt is keen on boosting relations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo at all levels and continuing to transfer expertise and build the Congolese capacities.

Sisi also stressed Egypt’s interest in close coordination with the DRC on the regional issues of common concern, especially in light of its chair of the African Union.

Sisi affirmed Egypt’s stance on the necessity of reaching a legally binding agreement on the filling and operating of the dam before the upcoming rain season, in order to preserve the rights of the downstream countries and maintain the regional stability.

Earlier on Thursday, Sisi met with Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok during his visit to Cairo.

The two leaders agreed during their talks on intensifying coordination with regional and international parties that are planned to mediate the stalled Ethiopian massive dam (GERD) negotiations.

Sisi and Hamdok meeting came within less than a week after the latter made an official visit to Sudan, during which he and the Sudanese leaders expressed rejection of Ethiopian unilateral steps to execute the second phase of dam filling with or without an agreement among the three countries.

Sisi, during the visit, also affirmed backing a Sudanese proposal to form a quartet committee that includes the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and the African Union to mediate the talks.

Ethiopia rejects the proposal.

The two leaders agreed to work on activating the proposal to “help reach a comprehensive and binding legal agreement on the rules of filling and operating the Renaissance Dam before the next rainy season,” the Presidency said.