The Ethiopian Nile dam, or the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, has created disputes among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. The upcoming dam talks — though the date is not fixed — may help address the concerns of all the parties and find acceptable solutions to disputes. According to multiple sources including the BBC, the dam talks are going to be held between Egypt and Ethiopia soon as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi agreed in Cairo on the margins of the Egypt-hosted summit on the civil war in Sudan to negotiations over the filling of the dam’s reservoir with a view to finalizing an agreement in four months. This is definitely a good step taken by the two leaders.
It is to note that Ethiopia started to build a dam on the Blue Nile River in 2011 which is almost complete now. The dam initiative, which was taken without a binding agreement between the three nations (Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan), has been at the center of the diplomatic spats and feisty exchanges of rhetoric among them since the beginning of its construction. The main point of their contention revolves around the potential impact of the dam on the flow of the Nile River, which is a vital water source for all three countries. While Egypt fears that the dam could impact its water supplies and reduce access to water with disruption to its agriculture sector, Ethiopia sees it as important for its economic growth and an integral part of its plans to electrify millions of homes in the country.
Talks were held several times among the three nations including a tripartite summit in Addis Ababa in 2019. The African Union, the United States and the United Arab Emirates mediated dam talks several times. Earlier meetings fostered increased understanding and cooperation among them — creating a positive atmosphere for finding mutually beneficial solutions to the disputes surrounding the dam’s operation and filling — and helped reach the Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2015 (signed by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan) and a preliminary Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam agreement in 2020. But disputes are yet to be resolved because of several factors including a lack of trust and interest in heeding the concerns of other parties. Each side accuses the others of solely pursuing their own interests.
It is desired that the dam talks are held between the countries. But finding mutually beneficial solutions is crucial for all parties. The parties definitely need to put emphasis on mutual understanding, cooperation and respect for each other’s interests and address their concerns regarding the controversial dam. But the parties need to reach concrete outcomes and ensure water security. A binding agreement on the rules for the filling and operation of the dam and equitable water sharing may be helpful. The mediation of third countries or organizations, preferably experienced in water dispute resolution, could also facilitate an acceptable resolution that benefits all the countries involved. But the parties need to be earnest.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
