Ethiopia has voiced its rejection to Egypt and Sudan’s plan to have an international quartet mediate the stalled Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations. “The GERD issue can be solved under the auspices of the ongoing African Union-led negotiation, which does not necessitate the involvement of a different party over the issue as a mediator,” Mufti said during a press briefing. “Ethiopia has the natural and legal right to utilize its water resources fairly and equitably without causing significant harm to downstream countries. Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have held several rounds of negotiations around the dam over the past years, but have ultimately failed to reach an agreement. The construction of the dam, which began in 2011, is considered to be one of Egypt’s most serious water issues.

Source: Egypt Independent March 09, 2021 13:41 UTC