Egypt and Sudan agree to monitor the Nile amid ongoing Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam tensions.

Arab Sea Newspaper - News Updates

Arabian Sea - Follow-ups: Amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Egypt and Sudan have agreed to strengthen joint coordination to monitor the hydrology of the Nile River and the operation of existing dams on it, following statements by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding the expected revenues of the dam. Egyptian Minister of Irrigation Hani Sewilam and Sudanese Minister of Irrigation Esmat Qureshi Abdullah held a meeting in Cairo to discuss the Nile water file, and stressed the need to adhere to international water law. The two ministers affirmed that the Renaissance Dam represents a "continuous threat" to the stability of the eastern Nile basin due to unilateral Ethiopian actions, especially with regard to the safety of the dam and uncontrolled water discharges. The meeting pointed to the importance of maintaining the current consultative track as a means to restore cooperation between the basin countries. This step comes hours after the Ethiopian Prime Minister stated that the Renaissance Dam is expected to generate annual revenues of up to one billion dollars, adding that Ethiopia intends to build similar projects in the coming years. It is noteworthy that the Renaissance Dam negotiations between the three countries stopped in 2023 after failing to reach a binding agreement, amid Egyptian accusations against Ethiopia of rejecting the proposed technical and legal solutions.