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Addis Ababa criticized the EU’s communiqué calling on the UN Security Council to intervene in Ethiopia’s dispute with Egypt and Sudan.
Ethiopia refused Arab League Resolution Call on the UN Security Council to intervene in the lingering dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the construction of a large dam on the Blue Nile River in Addis Ababa, a major tributary of the Nile.
The foreign ministers of 22 member states met in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday. This is the latest effort by Cairo and Khartoum to reach an agreement to fill the air crash. Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Ethiopia has pinned its hopes for economic development and power generation on the dam. Egypt relies on this river for 90% of its fresh water, and sees the new dam as an existential threat. Sudan is concerned about the operation of its own Nile dam and water supply station.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the East African countries said in a statement: “The League of Arab States should know that the use of the Nile waters is also a survival issue for Ethiopia.” Food security needs.
“Ethiopia is fully respecting international law and the principle of not causing major damage, and is exercising its legal right to use its water resources,” it added.
Africa’s largest hydroelectric generator
Last year, the three countries were close to reaching an agreement brokered by the United States, but Ethiopia withdrew from the signing meeting in Washington, accusing the administration of former President Donald Trump of siding with Egypt.
Currently, the African Union is mediating disputes. Cairo and Khartoum have repeatedly called on the United States, the European Union and the United Nations to also mediate, but Addis Ababa refused.
The agreement will clarify the operation and storage methods of the dam in accordance with international law and transboundary river regulations.
According to official Ethiopian media reports, the dam is now 80% complete and is expected to reach full capacity in 2023, making it the largest hydroelectric power station in Africa and the seventh largest hydroelectric power station in the world.
The focus of the controversy is how fast Ethiopia should fill and replenish its reservoirs, and how much water it will release downstream during years of drought. The latest round of negotiations brokered by the African Union in April failed to make progress.
The Arab League in its final communiqué on Tuesday Call on the UN Security Council Take “necessary measures” and start an “active negotiation process”, and strive to reach an agreement within a specific time limit.
Egypt and Sudan said they wrote to the Security Council this month to explain their position on the dam. Both sides warned that if an agreement is not reached, it will have a terrible impact on peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Addis Ababa said in a statement that it regretted Egypt and Sudan’s attempts to “unnecessarily politicize” the GERD negotiations and turn them into an Arab issue.
“GERD is an African issue. The differences between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan can only be resolved through sincere negotiation and compromise in the spirit of seeking African solutions to African issues.”
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