Despite US efforts, Ethiopia-Egypt dam spat holds strong
A meeting in Washington produced agreement on some items to be included in a final accord to fill and operate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, but failed to resolve significant, long-standing sticking points between Egypt and Ethiopia.
CAIRO — Talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam continue to disappoint despite ongoing mediation by the US government and the World Bank.
Foreign and water ministers for Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan met last week in Washington in the presence of US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and World Bank President David Malpass. When the three-day meeting ended Jan. 15, participants decided to include six points in a potential comprehensive agreement on the rules for filling and operating the dam.
But no agreement was reached on any of the contentious issues that have foiled the technical negotiation rounds during the past two months. Overall, disagreements over the $4 billion dam have been ongoing for nine years.
Cairo fears the dam project on the Nile River threatens Egypt's water supply and will harm the environment.
