Egypt Parliament Backs Government in GERD Dispute

An aerial view of the Nile River, agricultural lands and homes from an airplane window on a flight between Cairo and Luxor on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (EPA)
An aerial view of the Nile River, agricultural lands and homes from an airplane window on a flight between Cairo and Luxor on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (EPA)
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Egypt Parliament Backs Government in GERD Dispute

An aerial view of the Nile River, agricultural lands and homes from an airplane window on a flight between Cairo and Luxor on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (EPA)
An aerial view of the Nile River, agricultural lands and homes from an airplane window on a flight between Cairo and Luxor on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (EPA)

The Egyptian Senate, which is the upper house of the bicameral parliament, has thrown its support behind the government in the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile.

Following a meeting with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday, members of the Senate’s foreign affairs committee said they support the decisions that the government would take in case Ethiopia takes a move affecting Egypt’s water security.

The dispute with Ethiopia has recently grown amid Addis Ababa’s insistence to move forward with the scheduled second filling of the dam in July/August despite calls and warnings from both Sudan and Egypt against its “unilateral” move.

Earlier this month, talks hosted in Kinshasa ended with no progress.

Senate member Dr. Abdel-Moneim Said revealed there is an international effort to resume negotiations and resolve the dispute.

He stressed that Cairo will not undermine its interests, and is seeking to resolve the issue diplomatically.

Cairo fears the potential negative impact of GERD on the flow of its annual share of the Nile’s 55.5 billion cubic meters of water especially that it relies on it for more than 90 percent of its water supplies.

Head of the Republican People’s Party and Senate member Hazem Omar said the meeting with Shoukry came in line with the permanent coordination between the executive and legislative bodies to face the current challenges.

The meeting addressed the repercussions that Addis Ababa’s intransigence and unilateral steps would have on the future of development and stability of the Horn of Africa and countries in eastern Africa.

Cairo and Addis Ababa have exchanged accusations over responsibility for the failure of negotiations on GERD.

Shoukry informed the Senate that Addis Ababa has repeatedly rejected several mediations to resolve the issue and insisted to implement its plans.

Cairo and Khartoum seek a legally binding agreement over the operations and filling of the dam, which Addis Ababa says is crucial to its economic development.



France Says Algeria Threatening to Expel Diplomatic Staff 

This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)
This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)
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France Says Algeria Threatening to Expel Diplomatic Staff 

This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)
This handout photograph released by French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) shows France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meeting with Algeria's Foreign Minister at the ministry headquarters in Algiers on April 6, 2025. (AFP Photo / Handout / Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)

France said on Monday that Algeria had threatened to expel 12 of its diplomatic staff and that it would take immediate reprisals should that occur in the latest flare-up between them.

Algeria protested over the weekend against Frances's detention of an Algerian consular agent suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of an Algerian. French media said three people, including the diplomat, were under investigation over the seizure of Algerian government opponent Amir Boukhors.

"The Algerian authorities are demanding that 12 of our agents leave Algerian territory within 48 hours," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a statement.

"If the decision to expel our agents is maintained, we will have no choice but to respond immediately."

There was no immediate confirmation from Algeria of an imminent expulsion.

France's relations with its former colony have long been complicated, but took a turn for the worse last year when French President Emmanuel Macron angered Algeria by backing Morocco's position over the disputed Western Sahara region.

Only last week, Barrot had said ties were returning to normal after a visit to Algeria.