Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan discuss role of AU experts, basis for upcoming negotiation on GERD

Addis Ababa, November 4, 2020 (FBC) – The Ministers of Water Affairs of Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan have held virtual trilateral meeting on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) today.

The meeting was attended by the observers and experts assigned by the Bureau of the AU assembly.

The Ministers were presented with the report of the country experts on the modality of the upcoming negotiations.

According to Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, the Ministers exchanged view on enhanced role of the AU experts and their terms of reference, the basis for the upcoming negotiation and time frame. Ethiopia made propositions to bridge the positions of the three countries.

As the three countries were unable to reach a complete agreement on the agenda items mentioned above, the countries reached an understanding to resort to chairperson of the AU Executive Council and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa to consult on the next steps of the negotiation and make their respective reports.