As recently as mid-July, Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described progress in talks with Egypt and Sudan, declaring a new “major common understanding which paves the way for a breakthrough agreement”. Multiple diplomatic maneuvers have included Egypt complaining to the UN Security Council in May after Ethiopia announced plans to begin first-phase. In early July, the Egyptian foreign ministry demanded "urgent clarification" from Ethiopia after conflicting reports on whether it had started filling the reservoir. Ethiopia has long indicated intent to begin filling the dam's reservoir in July during the rainy season, with or without agreement of Egypt and Sudan. Egypt has insisted that Ethiopia should fill the dam reservoir over a period of seven years and release 40 billion cubic meters of water every year.

Source: Ethiopian News August 11, 2020 12:56 UTC