Egypt’s Irrigation Ministry: Sudan Requested Suspension of Dam Talks

Workers are photographed at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia. AFP file photo
Workers are photographed at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia. AFP file photo
TT

Egypt’s Irrigation Ministry: Sudan Requested Suspension of Dam Talks

Workers are photographed at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia. AFP file photo
Workers are photographed at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia. AFP file photo

Egyptian Minister of Water Resources Mohamed Abdel Aty announced that talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have been suspended at Sudan’s request.

The Minister said the negotiations were stalled over lack of agreement between the three concerned parties, adding that the Sudanese delegation requested to stop the process until its consultations with the African Union come to a conclusion.

Egypt and Sudan stress the importance of reaching a binding legal agreement with Ethiopia on the rules for filling and operating the GERD in a manner that preserves common interests.

Since last July, the African Union has initiated a round of talks between the three countries to allow progress in carrying out independent proposals by each party.

However, negotiations were suspended in August following a dispute over the draft guidelines and rules for filling the dam, lacking any operating rules or any elements that reflect the legal obligation of the agreement.

Abdel Aty said during a television interview on Thursday that “Egypt is in contact with AU President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the issue of the dam.”

“There could be a change in the coming days,” he added.

The third Cairo Water Week 2020 was concluded Thursday with the theme “Water Security in Arid Regions” the Road to Dakar 2021, emphasizing how water is an essential asset to all aspects of lives including health, economy and environment.

During the opening of the Water Week, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had stressed the necessity of reaching a binding legal agreement on the rules for filling and operating GERD in a manner that preserves common interests.

The PM also spoke about the importance of not taking any unilateral decisions that would affect stability in the region.

At the concluding session of the conference, Christian Berger, Ambassador of the EU to Egypt said, “Cairo Water Week is an important platform that supports Egypt’s position as a regional hub for integrated water management and knowledge sharing.”



Israel Says it Attacked Hezbollah's Intelligence HQ in Beirut

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, as seen from Hadath, Lebanon October 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, as seen from Hadath, Lebanon October 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
TT

Israel Says it Attacked Hezbollah's Intelligence HQ in Beirut

Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, as seen from Hadath, Lebanon October 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after an Israeli strike, as seen from Hadath, Lebanon October 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

Israel carried out at least three air raids on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday after issuing evacuation orders.

Israel said its air force attacked Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters and an underground workshop for the production of weapons in Beirut.

In a statement, the Israeli military said its fighter jets killed three Hezbollah commanders, including Alhaj Abbas Salameh, a senior figure in the group's southern command, Radja Abbas Awache, a communications expert, and Ahmad Ali Hussein, who it said was responsible for strategic weapons development.
It was not clear if the three were killed in the attack on the headquarters or in separate actions.

A day earlier, Israel carried out heavy strikes on several locations in Beirut's southern suburbs, leaving thick plumes of smoke hanging over the city into the evening.

The strikes targeted "a number of Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a Hezbollah intelligence headquarters command center,” Israel's military said.

Israel had issued evacuation orders for four separate neighborhoods within the suburbs, urging residents to get 500 meters away, but carried out strikes in other areas as well, witnesses said.

Tens of thousands of people have fled the southern suburbs - once a densely populated zone that also housed Hezbollah offices and underground installations - since Israel began regular strikes there about three weeks ago.

An Israeli air attack on Sept. 27 killed Hezbollah's secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, and strikes nearby have killed other top figures from the Iran-backed group.