Despite warnings from Egypt and Sudan about any unilateral steps regarding GERD before said agreement is reached, Ethiopia implemented the second phase of filling the dam in July without the two countries’ consent. In 2015, the three countries signed the Declaration of Principles, per which the downstream countries [Egypt and Sudan] should not be negatively affected by the construction of the dam. In March 2021, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stated, “No one can take a drop of water from Egypt... This is not a threat.”Sudan, as well has warned more than once of filling the GERD before reaching a legal binding agreement. Ethiopia, on the other side affirms that the second filling will be conducted, despite all negotiations and mediations.

Source: Egypt Today January 26, 2022 00:58 UTC