Egypt and Ethiopia held a meeting on the under-construction Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile that feeds 80 percent of the Nile’s water to downstream states (Egypt and Sudan), according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation on Friday.
During the meeting between Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation held discussion with Ethiopian Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity Frehiwot Woldehanna, Egypt discussed its vision on the filling process of the GERD reservoir, especially after Egypt has announced that its annual share of the Nile water decreased by 5 billion cubic meters in 2019. The meeting was also held in preparation for a six-party meeting among Foreign and Water and Irrigation Ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan.
Egypt’s concern over its share was escalated after Ethiopia started building the Dam on the Blue Nile in May 2011 but is yet to complete it. The control over the Nile river and it’s water flow has led to a geopolitical standoff between Ethiopia and Egypt. Both nations are vying for control of the Nile.
The Nile river stretches from Egypt, North Sudan to Ethiopia and is the main source of water for all three nations. Whoever controls the Nile river, fully controls the water supply in those three nations (Egypt, Ethiopia, North Sudan). As it stands the diplomatic spat between the Regimes in Cairo and Addis remains unresolved, which continues to lengthen the stalemate knowing neither side is willing to compromise.
We will keep you updated with the latest developments from the region.
Halgan Media.
