Egypt seeks binding deal as GERD talks reach critical stage
The fourth round of talks concerning the pivotal Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue resumed on Monday, aiming to finalise an agreement on the dam’s filling and operation for the subsequent four months.
The statement was made by participants in these talks, as verified by a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
The Addis Ababa negotiations are a continuation of previous dialogues that took place in Cairo and Addis Ababa in the past two months and involved ministerial delegations from Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
This negotiation round follows several unsuccessful meetings, underscoring Ethiopia’s firm stance, especially in the initial two rounds. Despite this, Egypt continues to advocate for discussions, aiming for a binding agreement that protects everyone’s interests.
The core of the disputes is Ethiopia’s unilateral filling and operation of the dam. While Ethiopia demands flexible water distribution based on rainfall and dam levels, Egypt seeks a fixed agreement on water sharing.
While Egypt and Sudan insist on respecting their historical water share, Ethiopia contends that these historical treaties, signed by colonial powers, were unjust and hindered their development and agricultural plans.
Despite strong opposition from Egypt and Sudan, Ethiopia managed to finish the fourth and last filling of the GERD reservoir early September.
Ethiopia initiated the large-scale dam project in 2011 with the goal of power production and growth. Yet, Egypt remains apprehensive that uncontrolled water discharge could threaten its water security and agriculture, as the Nile is Egypt’s lifeline.
