The foreign ministers of Sudan and Egypt held a joint news conference in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation as well as the value of reaching a legal agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River, which has ignited regional controversy.
Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, said in a statement that “There can be no endless negotiations or negotiations to come, with one side continuing to take unilateral measures. Otherwise, the matter becomes a mess and leads to nothing but imposing the will on two parties and exposing their people to existential risks.”
The ministers expressed their disappointment with the stalled talks, emphasizing the importance of water protection and protecting all three countries’ water rights while urging Ethiopia to demonstrate goodwill.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi stressed the importance of completing ongoing talks.
“We affirm the need for the African Union organisation to lead a four-way initiative in order to be able to resume negotiations, but this return cannot be expected to last indefinitely.”
Officials decided to form an international quartet negotiation structure, with the European Union, the United Nations, the United States, and the African Union as participants.
The African Union will serve as the sponsor, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the organization’s new Chair, will oversee all talks.
Educator, writer and legal researcher at Alafarika for Studies and Consultancy.