Sudan’s political crisis could complicate Nile dam dispute

Fears have arisen that the negotiation process over the Renaissance Dam will be affected by political tension in Sudan after its suspension from the African Union.
Sudan's Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Yasser Abbas (R) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Omar Gamar al-Din.
Sudan's Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Yasser Abbas (R) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Omar Gamar al-Din are pictured during a video conference with their Egyptian and Ethiopian counterparts, to discuss future steps in Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations, in the capital, Khartoum, on Jan. 10, 2021. - ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images
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Ayah Aman
@ayahaman

CAIRO — Less than 24 hours after the coup by Sudanese army chief Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Oct. 25 against the civilian element of the transitional period, the African Union (AU) suspended Sudan's membership and participation in all of its activities.

This comes as the AU seeks a compromise formula between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to resume negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). These African efforts follow the presidential statement on the GERD adopted by the UN Security Council calling for a resumption of the AU-led negotiations.

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