Egypt and Sudan have formally welcomed a renewed US offer to mediate the long-standing dispute over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Dam (GERD), signaling a potential breakthrough in the stalled negotiations.
The joint acceptance emphasizes the urgent need for a legally binding agreement that governs the filling and operation of the dam, ensuring the water security of downstream nations.
This diplomatic resurgence comes at a critical juncture, as Cairo and Khartoum seek to leverage international pressure to prevent unilateral actions by Addis Ababa and safeguard the stability of the Nile Basin .
President Trump said on Saturday he was ready to resume mediation to resolve the question of Nile Water sharing “once and for all.” Earlier talks were abandoned in 2020.
Addis Ababa inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Dam in September. The $5 billion project is the largest in Africa and is meant to double the country’s electricity generation.
But Cairo says the dam will drastically reduce the Nile’s flow, and could have severe effects on Egypt’s agriculture and other sectors.
Sudan wants assurance that replenishment of the dam’s reservoir won’t have unexpected impacts on its own dams.
The dispute centers on how the dam is replenished, the amount of water Ethiopia will release downstream in case of drought and the how the three countries will settle future disputes.
Cairo and Khartoum want a legally binding agreement on how the dam will be filled and operated, but Addis Ababa shows more opportunism for self-interest only without paying attention to other Nile basin states concerns and expected hazards.
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