Egypt, Ethiopia Agree to Settle Their Dispute Over The Giant Nile Dam

Bloomberg: Egypt, Ethiopia Agree to Talks on Giant Nile Dam 

(Bloomberg) -- Egypt and Ethiopia agreed to start “urgent” talks about finalizing an agreement relating to filling and operating a Nile dam which officials in Cairo argue will sharply curtail the nation’s access to fresh water. 

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed also agreed the nations would work to conclude the agreement within four months, Egypt’s state-run Middle East News Agency reported Thursday. The agreement would also include Sudan, it said.  

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WNU Editor: There is also talk in Cairo on how to resolve the Sudan civil war .... Sudan’s neighbors meeting in Cairo for summit agree to Egypt’s initiative to try to end conflict (AP). 

 Egypt, Ethiopia Agree to Settle Their Dispute Over The Giant Nile Dam  

Egypt, Ethiopia hope to reach agreement within 4 months after long dispute over Africa's largest dam -- AP 

Egypt president, Ethiopia PM aiming to finalize dam agreement within four months -- Reuters  

Egypt and Ethiopia decide to settle their Nile River dispute following a decade of hostility -- Business Insider

Ethiopia Rejects Outside Mediators In Its Dam Dispute With Sudan And Ethiopia

Anadolu Agency: Ethiopia rejects outside mediators in dam dispute 

Sudan demanded involvement of African Union, UN, EU, US in talks on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam 

Ethiopia has rejected calls by Sudan for outside mediators including the US in the ongoing dispute over the country’s construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Nile River.

“Ethiopia is generally opposed to mediation by outside parties even though the African Union is welcome to help,” Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters Tuesday. 

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Update: Ethiopia rejects outside mediation in Nile River dam dispute (PBS/AP) 

WNU Editor: Sudan formally requested mediation yesterday .... Sudan formally requests four-party mediation over Ethiopian dam (Reuters).

The Ethiopian-Egyptian Water War Has Begun (In Cyberspace)

Foreign Policy: The Ethiopian-Egyptian Water War Has Begun

The conflict between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has already started. It’s just happening in cyberspace.

It took only a few weeks to plan the cyberattack—and a few more to abandon the world of ethical hacking for the less noble sort. But they would do anything for the Nile, the four young Egyptians agreed.

With that, the group calling themselves the Cyber_Horus Group in late June hacked more than a dozen Ethiopian government sites, replacing each page with their own creation: an image of a skeleton pharaoh, clutching a scythe in one hand and a scimitar in the other. “If the river’s level drops, let all the Pharaoh’s soldiers hurry,” warned a message underneath. “Prepare the Ethiopian people for the wrath of the Pharaohs.”

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WNU Editor: The U.S. is taking sides in this conflict .... US suspends aid to Ethiopia over Blue Nile dam dispute (Al Jazeera).

Egypt Calls Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam An 'Existential' Threat

CBS: Ethiopia filling mega-dam that Egypt calls an "existential" threat

Ethiopia has dismissed reports that it's filling a massive reservoir behind a new hydroelectric dam, as the colossal infrastructure project strains ties between three African nations that all rely on the River Nile for water. Egypt has previously threatened to go to war over the dam.

Almost 10 years of negotiations between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt over Ethiopia's construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have failed to resolve the conflict. Recent satellite images from the European Space Agency show water filling the reservoir behind the dam, but Ethiopian officials insist it's just "natural pooling" from rainfall, not the start of filling operations.

All three nations share the water of the Blue Nile, one of the two tributaries of the River Nile. Sudan and Egypt insist an agreement on how Ethiopia will operate the new dam should be reached before the reservoir is filled.

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Update #1: Egypt accuses Ethiopia of stonewalling on Nile dam (Al-Monitor)
Update #2: Nile water an existential issue for Egyptians, Sisi tells AU chair (Ahram Online)

WNU Editor: Ethiopia wants the dam to provide electricity and water for irrigation. Egypt wants to limit what this dam can provide. I do not know how this can be resolved. There is no middle ground between the two sides.

Ethiopia Starts Filling Grand Renaissance Dam

Reuters: Ethiopia starts filling Grand Renaissance dam, minister says

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia has started filling the Grand Renaissance dam, a giant hydroelectric project it is building on the Blue Nile, its water minister said on Wednesday, a day after talks with Sudan and Egypt on the issue became deadlocked.

“The construction of the dam and the filling of the water go hand in hand,” Seleshi Bekele said in televised comments. “The filling of the dam doesn’t need to wait until the completion of the dam.”

The water level had increased from 525 meters to 560 meters, he said.

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WNU Editor: If water levels on the Nile do drop appreciably, there is a very real possibility that Egypt will launch military strikes to destroy this dam .... Egypt is backed into a corner over the Nile dam – it may have no choice but to go to war (Ahmed Aboudouh, the Independent).

More News On Ethiopia Starting To Fill The Grand Renaissance Dam

Ethiopia begins filling Grand Renaissance Dam reservoir, says minister -- The National
Ethiopia begins filling Grand Renaissance dam on Blue Nile -- Al Jazeera
Photos: Satellite images show Ethiopia dam reservoir swelling -- Egypt Independent

Egyptian-Ethiopian Talks On The Nile Dam Have Been Stall Again

Al-Monitor: Nile dam talks stall again amid Egyptian-Ethiopian dispute

Egypt has addressed a letter to the UN Security Council over Ethiopia’s plan to begin filling the Renaissance dam without prior notification of both Cairo and Sudan, further complicating talks to resolve the dispute.

CAIRO — Facing Ethiopia’s unilateral decision to begin filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s reservoir before coming to a full agreement with Egypt over a storage and operation mechanism in the dam, Cairo has taken a new diplomatic path, briefing the UN Security Council members May 1. It stated in an all-inclusive letter all of the unsuccessful diplomatic efforts and paths taken regarding the dam in light of Ethiopia’s intransigence and unilateral decision to fill the dam.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry’s letter to the Security Council president for May, Estonia’s Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, clearly states, “Ethiopia announcing its intention to seize the Blue Nile waters to fill the dam’s reservoir in July 2020 poses a serious threat to the region’s peace and security. Filling the dam’s reservoir, which is being promoted as the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, would jeopardize the water security, food security, and indeed, the very existence of over 100 million Egyptians, who are entirely dependent on the Nile River for their livelihood.”

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WNU Editor: Ethiopia’s unilateral decision to begin filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s reservoir before coming to a full agreement with Egypt is a clear sign to me that Ethiopia has made the decision to go ahead regardless of what its neighbours may think. It is almost as if Ethiopia is daring Sudan and Egypt to do womething about it.

Are Egypt, Sudan, And Ethiopia On The Verge Of A War Over Water?

Construction work on Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance dam in Guba woreda, in the Ethiopian region of Benishangul-Gumuz. Photograph: Tiksa Negeri/Reuters

The Guardian: 'It'll cause a water war': divisions run deep as filling of Nile dam nears

Despite Egypt’s fears of ‘hydro hegemony’ and concerns it will worsen water shortages in Sudan, Ethiopia’s controversial dam project is close to fruition.

From his office in central Khartoum, Ahmed al-Mufti prepares every day for what he believes is the water war to come.

This conviction led Mufti, a prominent human rights lawyer and water expert, to quit the Sudanese delegation that is negotiating Nile water issues with Egypt and Ethiopia.

He was angry at Ethiopia’s decision to build the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam (Gerd), a $4.5bn (£3.6bn) mega-project on the Blue Nile river that runs from Lake Tana in Ethiopia to meet the White Nile in Khartoum, flowing north into Egypt. The dam project will affect water levels downstream, depending on how fast Ethiopia fills its 74bn cubic metre reservoir.

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WNU Editor: If the Nile River dries up you can take this to the bank. A war will break out between Egypt and Ethiopia over water.

Ethiopia Calls US View "Totally Unacceptable" On Nile Dam Negotiations

BBC: Nile Dam: Ethiopia calls US view "totally unacceptable"

Ethiopia has said the US position on the controversial Nile River mega-dam project is "totally unacceptable".

The US is negotiating between Ethiopia and Egypt in the ongoing dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that some fear could lead to war.

Ethiopia accused the US of overstepping its role as a neutral observer after the US said the dam should not be completed without an agreement.

But its foreign minister said Ethiopia would continue to attend the talks.

Upon completion, the dam will be Africa's biggest hydroelectric power plant and provide Ethiopia and some neighbours with huge amounts of electricity and energy security.

The country wants to start filling the dam in June, but countries downstream are concerned about the impact on their water supply.

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WNU Editor: Egypt is signalling to Ethiopia that they will not accept the current situation .... Egypt’s El Sisi holds military meeting amid tensions with Ethiopia (The National).

More News On The Ethiopian - Egypt Conflict Over The Nile Dam

Ethiopia says US 'undiplomatic' over Nile Dam project -- RTE
Trump tells Sisi U.S. to pursue efforts for deal over Ethiopia dam: Egypt presidency -- Reuters
Trump Calls Egyptian Leader to Discuss Nile Dam -- VOA

Egypt, Ethiopia And Sudan Make Draft Deal On Nile River Dispute

BBC: Nile River dam row: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan make draft deal

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have reached an initial deal on the filling and operation of what will be Africa's biggest hydro-electric dam.

The three nations agreed, following a meeting in Washington, that the mega dam on the River Nile should be filled in stages during the rainy season.

Ethiopia, which is building the dam, wants to start generating electricity as soon as possible.

But Egypt is concerned about its water supplies if it is filled too fast.

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Update: Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan make slow progress in Nile dam row (DW).

WNU Editor: This dispute has been going on for a very long time. I for one am surprise to see this agreement.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Warns Egypt Not To Go To War Over Dam Project

Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam is seen as it undergoes construction work on the river Nile in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia September 26, 2019. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo

Middle East Eye: Ethiopia's prime minister warns of war with Egypt over dam project

Abiy Ahmed says his country could mobilise 'millions of people' to fight but negotiations are a better solution

Ethiopia's Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister Abiy Ahmed said on Tuesday that his country is capable of mobilising millions to fight Egypt over a disputed dam project, but that talks are the best means of resolving the conflict.

The 43-year-old - Africa’s youngest leader - delivered his remarks in his first parliamentary question-and-answer session since winning the Nobel Prize on 11 October for his peacemaking efforts with neighbouring Eritrea.

“Some say things about use of force [by Egypt]. It should be underlined that no force could stop Ethiopia from building a dam,” Ahmed was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

“If there is a need to go to war, we could get millions readied. If some could fire a missile, others could use bombs. But that’s not in the best interest of all of us.”

Later on Tuesday, Egypt said it had accepted a US invitation to a meeting of foreign ministers over the project.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. has agreed to mediate .... Egypt accepts invitation to meet in U.S. over Ethiopia dam dispute (Reuters).

More News On the Growing Differences Between Egypt And Ethiopia Over Dam Project

Ethiopia's Nobel-winning leader warns Egypt over dam -- AP
Abiy Ahmed: No force can stop Ethiopia from building dam -- BBC
Nobel Peace Prize winner says Ethiopia is 'readied' for war, 11 days after award -- ABC News
Ethiopia PM: If there’s a war with Egypt over the dam, millions would join -- Middle East Monitor
Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed issues warning over Renaissance Dam -- Al Jazeera
Egypt ‘Shocked’ by Ethiopia’s Readiness For War Over Dam Issue – Foreign Ministry -- Sputnik