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After Khartoum submitted a formal request for quadripartite mediation to resolve the dispute over the filling and operation of the Renaissance dam, a member of the Ethiopian negotiating team considered, on Friday, that the idea of quadripartite mediation is not a serious proposal from Egypt. and Sudan, but rather a “trap” to achieve his goal, according to him.
The official also claimed that the Sudanese proposal aims to delay the second filling and undermine his country’s right to fair use of the Nile, according to his statement.
Despite Ethiopia’s rejection of the idea of the Quartet mediation and adherence to African mediation, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok sent letters a few days ago to the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to the US Secretary of State. Anthony Blinken, the European Union Foreign Affairs official, Josep Borrell, and the President of the Congo, Felix Cheskade, in his capacity as President of the African Union, calling for intervention to play a mediating role in the Renaissance Dam negotiations .
Hamdok expressed to the Quartet parties his desire that mediation be limited to contentious points, especially the obligation of agreement, the dispute resolution mechanism, technical issues related to the drought and the exchange of information, noting his request for do not involve the division. of water in the talks.
An image showing flowing water from Ethiopia’s Great Renaissance Dam (France Press archive)
Egypt: we hold on to our position
This occurred at a time when Egypt confirmed that the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue represents a “national security issue”, and emphasized its adherence to its water rights by reaching a binding legal agreement that guarantees clear rules for water. filling and operation of the dam.
After Sudan announced the proposal, the Egyptian Minister of Water and Irrigation, Mohamed Abdel Atti, declared his support for the idea to advance the negotiation process and help the three countries to reach the desired agreement as soon as possible.
Recent satellite images of the Renaissance Dam
Ethiopia refuses
However, Ethiopia completely rejected the Sudanese proposal, and the official spokesperson for the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, Dina Mufti, announced that Addis Ababa informed the Congolese delegation about its rejection of the Quartet mediation and adhered to the African mediation.
Addis Ababa announced last month that it would continue with the second filling of the dam lake next June, 3 months later.
He stated that the filling process will be completed in 13.5 billion cubic meters, which is about 3 times the volume of the initial filling implemented last year at 4.9 billion cubic meters.
From the Renaissance Dam Negotiations
Sudan: We don’t want confusion!
For her part, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Maryam Al-Sadiq confirmed on Thursday that the decision to unilaterally fill the dam would further complicate matters and threaten the lives of the 20 million citizens who live on the banks of the Nile.
He added that Sudan does not intend to create confusion or enter a war, stating that his country is willing to accept any initiative that addresses the problems without harming either side.
He also noted that the Sudan-led quartet initiative aims to support and facilitate the mission of the African Union.
He indicated that the Sudanese army is deployed within its territory to secure its borders, after the Ethiopians themselves requested it with the onset of the crisis.
Renaissance Dam (Archives – France Press)
A life preserver
The Nile, the longest river in the world, is a lifeline for the ten countries it runs through, providing them with clean water and electricity.
The Blue Nile, which meets the White Nile in the Sudanese capital, provides most of the Nile’s water that flows through northern Sudan and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
