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Egypt Holds Onto Talks over GERD

A general view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia, on December 26, 2019. (Getty Images)
A general view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia, on December 26, 2019. (Getty Images)
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Egypt Holds Onto Talks over GERD

A general view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia, on December 26, 2019. (Getty Images)
A general view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia, on December 26, 2019. (Getty Images)

Egypt has reiterated that it holds onto negotiations with Addis Ababa and Khartoum in the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

But it stressed to sticking to its water rights and achieving the three countries’ interests in any binding and legal agreement on the dam.

Cairo and Khartoum fear the potential negative impact of GERD on the flow of their annual share of the Nile’s 55.5 billion cubic meters of water.

They have been racing against time to reach an agreement before Ethiopia’s scheduled unilateral second filling of the dam reservoir in July.

During his visit to South Sudan’s Juba on Wednesday, Irrigation Minister Mohammed Abdel Aty said his country is implementing several projects in the Nile basin and other African countries.

The projects aim to serve citizens and achieve stability by addressing drinking water problems and protecting people from floods, he explained.

The latest round of talks between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia in Kinshasa ended in early April with no progress made.

Tension has recently increased due to Addis Ababa’s insistence to proceed in its unilateral moves without a prior agreement.

Cairo underscored the importance of holding “effective and serious” negotiations to reach a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations, in light of Addis Ababa’s “intransigence.”

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had previously highlighted Egypt's political principles to boost Arab solidarity as a strategic approach for cooperation based on “mutual respect, sincere intentions and coordination to curb any regional hazards or challenges.”

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, on Wednesday and discussed with him regional developments, including GERD and the situation in Libya and Palestine.

According to a foreign ministry statement, both ministers agreed to continue coordination and consultation on all bilateral, regional and international issues that they consider a priority.

Also, Khartoum asked the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to meet and discuss the dispute over GERD and “its impact on the safety and security of millions of people.”

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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
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Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have prevented their so-called prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahwi, from naming the head of his office.

The Houthis have instead forced him to appoint a person of their choosing against his wishes, revealed informed sources in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Houthis are attempting to strip al-Rahwi, who was named as head of the militias’ new government, of his powers, making his appointment simply a cover for imposing their agenda and favoring Houthis who are descended of the line of their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The sources revealed that al-Rahwi had headed to the government headquarters with Rabih al-Mehdi, the director of the office of his predecessor. Mehdi hails from the Abyan province that is held by the legitimate government.

Al-Rahwi was seeking to keep al-Mehdi in his post. However, a leading Houthi member, Mohammed Qassem al-Kabisi, who used to occupy the position of government secretary, barred him from making the appointment.

Kabisi even prevented al-Mehdi from entering his office, resulting in an argument with al-Rahwi.

Kabisi informed al-Rahwi that he had no authority in naming the head of his office, saying that he does instead.

Al-Rahwi turned to the Houthis’ so-called ruling high political council to resolve the dispute and was informed that he should accept Kabisi as head of his office despite his objection.

A decree was issued days later naming Kabisi to the post.

He will effectively hold absolute power in government, while al-Rahwi will simply play a figurative role and only be needed to approve decisions and procedures taken by the Houthi leadership, joining other ministers who have no real duties.

The Houthis have formed a new government that will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in keeping actual power to the militias themselves.

The new lineup includes a pro-Houthi figure, with no diplomatic background or experience, who was named foreign minister, replacing leading General People's Congress member Hisham Sharaf.

The appointment only fueled claims that the Houthis were seeking to eliminate their partners from rule. Al-Rahwi himself had no say in the lineup.

The Houthis announced the formation of their government on August 12. It met on August 17 to discuss its program, referred it to parliament the same day and by the next morning, an announcement was made that it was approved with no amendments or objections.

The incident with al-Rahwi has fueled speculation that the coming period will witness more struggles for power among the Houthis and their partners, whom they are trying to keep out of rule.

Observers noted that Kabisi is the son of a top Houthi leader. Qassem al-Kabisi is one of the founders of the group and is close to their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The senior Houthi officials believe they have the right to represent the Houthis in rule since they are its founders and oldest members.