Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dina Mufti expressed hope on Tuesday for the resumption of negotiations regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, suggesting that Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi's meetings could break the deadlock. The U.S. envoy also called for a "win-win solution" for all parties involved in the dam crisis.
President Tshisekedi, currently holding the presidency of the African Union, arrived in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa for consultations with Ethiopian officials regarding the stalled negotiations. His visit is part of a tour encompassing Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia aimed at reaching agreements among the three nations before the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The Congolese president is seeking to reconcile the positions of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan within the framework of the African Union's efforts to resolve the dam issue. Tshisekedi's initiatives follow Ethiopia's insistence on proceeding with the second filling of the dam next summer, amid concerns from downstream nations (Egypt and Sudan) regarding the implications on dam safety and potential reductions in water shares, especially during drought periods.
Regarding conversations with U.S. envoy officials, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry stated that talks have been productive and constructive. The ministry reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to reaching an agreement solely on the second filling and operationalization of the dam. Ethiopia also hopes that President Tshisekedi's meetings with the three countries will yield results in overcoming the negotiation stalemate. The spokesperson emphasized that Ethiopia's stance on the dam remains unchanged, and they informed the U.S. envoy of their commitment to the African Union's leadership in the negotiations.
The U.S. envoy met with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, as well as Water, Irrigation, and Energy Minister Seleshi Bekele, discussing the dam, elections, the situation in Tigray, and broader trilateral regional issues under African Union-led diplomatic efforts aimed at ensuring a win-win outcome for all parties involved.
