Arab, Gulf countries intervene to help with Ethiopia dam dispute

Arab and Gulf countries have been working to reach an agreement between Egypt and Ethiopia on the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egyptian sources revealed.
According to the sources, in February Addis Ababa rejected the US Treasury’s proposed agreement on the filling and operation of the dam which included technical input from the World Bank.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Egypt had succeeded in convincing Sudan to support its position in the negotiations despite the technical differences between the two sides.
The sources said that Khartoum has accepted 90 per cent of the agreement’s terms, while Addis Ababa completely rejected them.
The Egyptian sources explained that Sudan has changed its position after mutual visits between the Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence, Major General Abbas Kamel, and First Vice-President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council, General Muhammad Hamdan Daglo.
Unlike Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan see the agreement reached during US negotiations as a new starting point for negotiations.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia announced that it is willing to return to the negotiations, but with clear conditions, including the abolition of unacceptable terms and defining the role of the US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin in the negotiations.
The sources pointed out that this position conveyed by the mediators to Egypt is considered “the beginning of a possible solution”, however Cairo does not want to be over optimistic due to previous failures.
Source: Middle East Monitor

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suspension of US aid to Ethiopia is yet another example of Trump’s disregard for Africa

Image
America’s Department of State recently suspended   $130 million worth of aid to Ethiopia because of “a lack of progress” on negotiations pertaining to the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the River Nile. According to state department officials, the decision to cut aid came as a result of a direct “ guidance ” from President Donald Trump. Estimates  show that almost half of Ethiopia’s budget is linked to foreign aid. The country depends on  economic assistance  to support its infrastructure projects, health care and education expansion efforts, and security sector reforms. By suspending some aid, the United States has reopened the debate on whether developing countries should depend on foreign aid to realise their economic goals. The decision to suspend aid to Ethiopia comes after  almost 10 years of regional and international efforts  to mediate the dam dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia. Almost  60% of Ethiopians  do not have access to electricity. The renaissanc
Read more

UAE and Ethiopia discuss more avenues to enhance cooperation

Image
  Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), received at the Fund’s headquarters Suleiman Dedefo, Ambassador of Ethiopia to the UAE. Senior officials from both sides were present at the meeting. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and means of developing them, especially through the Fund’s support to the Ethiopian government to achieve sustainable development goals by financing development and investment projects. Al Suwaidi emphasised the Fund’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia in its developmental efforts, noting that the visit presented an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. The meeting was part of the continuous coordination, particularly over the Fund’s support to the Ethiopian government to achieve its economic objectives. Dedefo expressed appreciation for the UAE, as well as ADFD, for supporting his country in its effort to achieve sustainable developmental goals and economic priorities. He pointed out that the
Read more

The 9 Most Beautiful Towns and Cities in Africa

Image
The African continent is not only about impressive animals, stunning deserts and beautiful savannahs. It is also home to astonishing cities and towns that are rich in history and culture. Here are our top picks. Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town is a vibrant and colorful city with stunning beaches, beautiful mountains and some of the best vineyards in Africa. Taking the cable car ride to  the top of Table Mountain  at sunrise or sunset to take in the beautiful views is a must. With all the sophistication and activities that can be found in the city, this seaside playground certainly has enough to offer to everyone. Essaouira, Morocco With an ancient medina and lustrous fortifications that date back to the 18th century, miles of stunning beaches, and a charming harbour and fish market to stroll around,  Essaouira is one the most beautiful towns to visit  on the continent. It guarantees moments of peace and tranquility far away from the mayhem of bigger cities and the charmless all
Read more