Addis Ababa (Dawan Africa) – African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has urged Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resume dialogue on the management of Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), highlighting the need for diplomacy to resolve tensions.
Speaking during the dam’s inauguration on Tuesday, Youssouf acknowledged the concerns of Egypt and Sudan over the uninterrupted flow of the Nile and stressed the importance of reaching a trilateral agreement.
“As Chairperson of the African Union Commission, it is my duty to address Egypt and Sudan’s concerns regarding the unimpeded flow of the Nile water and the expectation of a trilateral agreement,” he said.
He noted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s assurances that the project “is not meant to harm anyone” and emphasized that negotiations remain the best path forward.
Youssouf called on the three countries to build on the 2015 Agreement on Principles signed in Khartoum, which established a framework for cooperation. The 2015 Khartoum Declaration was intended to guide cooperation but failed to produce a legally binding deal.
“I urge the three countries to resume dialogue and talks on the basis of the 2015 Agreement on Principles signed in Khartoum. The African Union Commission is ready to assist the three countries to find an amicable solution,” he added.
With the GERD now fully operational, regional attention is shifting to how its management will affect relations between the three countries. Egypt has continued to call for safeguards to guarantee the flow of the Nile, Sudan has pressed for coordinated water releases, while Ethiopia has stressed its sovereign right to harness the river for development.
