Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated Egypt’s firm position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis, wherein it is seeking to reach a binding agreement that preserves the water rights of all parties. “But it should not in any way detract from the water rights of Egypt and Sudan in the Nile River. In an interview with Bloomberg that was published on Wednesday, Shoukry confirmed Egypt’s keenness to “avoid armed conflict” over the Renaissance Dam. Egypt and Sudan fear possible blows to water facilities, agricultural land, and overall availability of Nile water. Negotiations over the dam between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have stalled for years, with the three parties ultimately failing to reach any agreements.
