While suspended two months ago after Cairo slammed the door, negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the renaissance dam could resume on Tuesday, October 27, at the initiative of the African Union (AU). The three countries are in a tense climate just five days after the inflammatory remarks of Donald Trump.
as reported from Addis Ababa, Noé Rochet-Bodin
After a two-month break, the negotiations will be held at a video conference. But it is an understatement to say that it is an achievement to bring the three countries together around the same table. This force tour is to be put in honor of Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and the African Union (AU).
Egypt had slammed the door to the final round of negotiations two months ago, accusing Cairo Addis Ababa of wanting to derail the deal and deprive it of the Nile. The South African president even says he is sure of it sign an agreement after a few days of conversations.
However, the climate has never been so harmful before the discussions started. First because of the spark that was ignited by Donald Trump last Saturday when he hinted that Egypt risked ending up blowing up the dam.
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Then because Ethiopia has closed its airspace on the border with Sudan to ward off possible attacks. Finally, because the first phase of filling the Renaissance dam was carried out in August despite the lack of an international agreement.
For all three delegations, it is always the same question mark. How fast can Ethiopia fill its dam without depriving its two neighbors of the water in the Nile? This river, which runs for about 6,000 kilometers, is a major source of water and electricity for a dozen countries in East Africa. Cairo and Khartoum, downstream of the river, want an agreement, especially on the management of the dam.
An Ethiopian source says the three parties have better relations to negotiate. This is true at least for Addis Ababa, in a strong position after proving this summer that it was able to fill its dam alone. Cairo and Khartoum are forced to resume dialogue on pain by watching history repeat itself in the summer of 2021, when Ethiopia announced it would continue with the second phase of the filling.
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