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Why Nile Renaissance Dam talks are on hold for now

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have been in a state of calm since the last session that was held under the auspices of the African Union and completely failed to reach a binding agreement between all parties.

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Kafule Yigzaw (L) checks iron bars at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia, on Dec. 26, 2019. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a 145-meter-high, 1.8-kilometer-long concrete colossus, is set to become the largest hydropower plant in Africa. Across Ethiopia, poor farmers and rich businessmen alike eagerly await the more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity officials say it will ultimately provide. Yet as thousands of workers toil day and night to finish the project, Ethiopian negotiators remain locked in talks over how the dam will affect downstream neighbors, principally Egypt. — EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP via Getty Images

CAIRO — The negotiation session held Aug. 28 between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under the auspices of the African Union (AU) ended amid failure to reach a unified draft that includes each of the country’s proposals. It fell short of agreeing on a satisfactory and binding solution for all parties.

Ever since, there has been no news about the GERD negotiations, except for a recent press statement issued by the commander of the Ethiopian air force, Gen. Yilma Mardasa, on Oct. 2, saying the Ethiopian air force has the ability to secure and defend the dam.

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