Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan failed to strike a deal on the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam before Ethiopia began filling the reservoir behind the dam in July. Egypt says it is dependent on the Nile for more than 90% of its scarce fresh water supplies, and fears the dam could have a devastating effect on its economy. Abiy told the United Nations that the project contributes to the conservation of water resources, "which would otherwise have been lost to evaporation in downstream countries." Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed his concern about the project when he addressed the United Nations on Tuesday. For Egypt the Nile water is an existential matter.

Source: Ethiopian News September 25, 2020 20:55 UTC