Can Algerian mediation bring sides closer in Nile dam dispute?
Algeria has become a party in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis after consenting to assume a mediation role to resolve the dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, which experts count on to peddle the wheel of the negotiations.
CAIRO — Algeria has now joined the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dossier, following an Ethiopian invitation on July 29 calling on Algeria to assume a constructive role in rectifying “misconceptions” of the Arab League about the Ethiopian position on the GERD.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra began on July 28 an African tour, including Tunisia, Ethiopia and Sudan, during which he met with several officials. He also met his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, in Cairo on July 31 to discuss bilateral relations and the GERD crisis.
Following a meeting between Lamamra and head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan welcomed on July 31 the Algerian initiative to resolve the dispute over the GERD between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.
A statement by Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council issued July 31 explained that the initiative requires “the three countries hold a direct meeting to solve differences over the GERD.”
