Egypt pushes to revive stalled negotiations over Nile dam
Egypt is calling for the swift resumption of negotiations over the controversial Ethiopian dam, as the new US envoy to the Horn of Africa lands in Cairo for the first time since his appointment.
Egypt has recently called on Ethiopia to swiftly resume negotiations over the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in an attempt to mobilize diplomatic momentum and revive the stalled talks.
Cairo’s renewed call comes as Addis Ababa is preparing to generate electricity for the first time from the giant hydroelectric dam it is building on the Blue Nile — the main tributary of the Nile — in a move that is likely to heighten existing tensions with Egypt and Sudan.
During a meeting with US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa David Satterfield in Cairo Jan. 25, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that his country wants to reach a fair, balanced and legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD in a way that takes into account the interests of the three countries.
Shoukry also stressed the importance of tackling security and stability in the Horn of Africa from a comprehensive point of view that ensures the settlement of all issues.
