The African Union on Friday called on Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to work expeditiously to finalize the text of a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with the support of AU experts and observers.
“The Meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government agreed on the process of finalizing negotiations on the text of a binding agreement on the filling and operation of GERD, which should include a comprehensive agreement on future developments on the Blue Nile River,” said a statement issued Friday by the AU chairperson, South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.
He chaired Tuesday a video-teleconference meeting on the dam to review progress pertaining to the trilateral negotiations on GERD’s controversial issues that have stoked tensions between Addis Ababa and downstream neighbors Cairo and Khartoum.
In the statement, the Union welcomed the report of AU experts on the resumed trilateral negotiations on the dam, which reflected notable progress in the talks and presented options for resolving outstanding legal and technical issues.
It said, “The Parties to the GERD expressed their confidence in the AU-led process and reaffirmed their utmost commitment to finding a mutually beneficial and negotiated agreement pertaining to GERD … They underscored the importance of cooperation as a basis for integration, sustainable development and prosperity for the three countries.”
The statement revealed that South Africa, in its capacity as the Chairperson of the AU, will communicate with the Parties regarding the next round of trilateral negotiations to address outstanding legal and technical issues on GERD.
The Bureau of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government commended the three parties for their commitment to resolve their differences through dialogue and agreed to maintain regular, dynamic contact at this critical stage of the negotiation process.
“The Bureau renewed its call to the parties to refrain from making statements or taking any action that may undermine the AU-led process,” the AU statement said.