Sudan to be mediator in Egypt/Ethiopia talks over GERD: Daglo

CAIRO - 15 March 2020: First Deputy Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo told Extra News that his country will be a mediator between Egypt and Ethiopia hoping they would reach an agreement.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi discussed the developments of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with Daglo on Sunday.

The meeting held in Cairo covered the outcomes of the negotiations that took place in rounds in Washington, and the agreement signed by Egypt with initial letters.

President Sisi highlighted Egypt's support to Sudan during the current critical transitional phase pointing out that Egypt’s policies have always been backing Sudan.

On his side, Daglo praised the Egyptian honest and diligent support aimed for the preservation of the safety and stability of Sudan in a pivotal phase of its history.

The meeting was attended by Egypt’s Chief Intelligence Abas Kamel, as announced by Presidency Spokesperson Bassam Rady on social media.

Daglo arrived in Cairo on Saturday in a two-day state visit upon an invitation by President Sisi.

The head of the sovereignty council of Sudan, General Abdel Fatah al Burhan, and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, separately met on March 9 the Egyptian chief of General Intelligence, Abbas Kamel, Sudan state media reported.

Accompanied by a high-profile security delegation, Abbas arrived Monday in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum to convey a message of solidarity from the Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al Sisi following a foiled attempt on prime minister Abdalla Hamdok’s life.

The officials discussed regional and international topics of common interest, plans to boost cooperation in different fields.

According to Egyptian state media, Sisi's message expressed solidarity and support for the Sudanese state following the terrorist life attempt on the government's premier.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ahmed Hafez, expressed his disappointment on March 8 over the Sudanese Foreign Ministry’s statement that voiced reservations regarding a draft resolution issued by the Arab Council for Foreign Ministers on Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam.

Hafez pointed out in a press statement that Egypt was keen to inform the Sudanese representative at the Arab League about the draft resolution since March 1st, adding that Sudan had confirmed then receiving the draft resolution, however, did not share any comments with the Egyptian authorities.

Hafez added that the Egyptian delegation removed Sudan from the draft resolution as per the Sudanese authorities’ desire. The spokesperson said that the amendments suggested later by Sudan seek to weaken the draft resolution.

Hafez said that the Arab Council for Foreign Ministers’ meeting only supported the Egyptian water rights in accordance with the International law principles and called for signing the already-brokered agreement in US Washington.