This announcement however, comes amid Egyptian and Sudanese objection to the unilateral acts of Ethiopia on filling the reservoir of GERD without reaching an agreement with the downstream countries. On Friday Ethiopia affirmed that it will not sign on any agreement that would requires passing specific shares for water from GERD to the downstream countries; Mufti said. Mnuchin praised Egypt’s decision to initial the brokered document, which includes rules for filling and operating the controversial dam in Ethiopia. The sponsorship of negotiations by the US and the World Bank started in November last year after rounds of failed negotiations between Egypt and Ethiopia. Sudanese Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas said, Thursday that his country has suspended negotiations on GERD for further internal consultations.

Source: Ethiopian News August 10, 2020 07:41 UTC