Egypt and Sudan issued a joint statement on Wednesday following a meeting between the foreign and irrigation ministers of the two countries regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Below is the text of the statement: A high-level Egyptian delegation, including Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Mohamed Abdel Ati, visited Khartoum for intensive discussions with their Sudanese counterparts, including Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr. Maryam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi and Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Professor Yasser Abbas, with the participation of technical and legal experts from both sides. The discussions took place in a friendly and positive atmosphere characterized by mutual understanding.
The consultations focused on the developments related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, where both sides agreed on the serious risks and severe repercussions associated with Ethiopia's unilateral filling of the dam. They emphasized the importance of coordinating the efforts of both countries at the regional, continental, and international levels to push Ethiopia to negotiate seriously, in good faith, and with real political will to reach a comprehensive, fair, and legally binding agreement regarding the filling and operation of the dam, especially after the negotiations sponsored by the African Union have reached a deadlock due to Ethiopian obstinacy.
The two countries' views aligned on the necessity of coordinating actions to protect security, peace, and stability in the region and the African continent, which requires active intervention from the international community to mitigate the risks associated with Ethiopia's ongoing policy of imposing fait accompli on the downstream countries and its unilateral will, exemplified by its announcement of plans to fill the dam during the upcoming flood season without regard to the interests of Sudan and Egypt.
The foreign and irrigation ministers of Sudan and Egypt expressed deep concern regarding the potential effects and damages of the unilateral filling and operation of the dam without a legally binding agreement regulating the operation of this massive dam on the rights and water interests of Sudan and Egypt. They asserted the importance of international efforts to reach a resolution to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis that considers the interests of the three countries and meets their shared needs.
The discussions also addressed the bilateral relations between the two countries, with both sides confirming their commitment to strengthening and deepening the enduring ties that bind the peoples of the two nations.
