AU Says Ready to Help Resolve GERD Crisis

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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AU Says Ready to Help Resolve GERD Crisis

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)

The African Union (AU) said it is ready to provide the necessary help to facilitate reaching a final agreement among the three disputed parties on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat made these remarks following his meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi in Khartoum on Saturday.

Faki arrived in Khartoum on an official two-day visit, heading a high ranking delegation, comprising AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU’s envoy to Sudan Mohamed al-Hassan Ould Labata and Head of the AU Liaison Office in Khartoum Mohamed Belaiche.

Mahdi stressed her country’s insistence on reaching a legally binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the mega dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, read a foreign ministry statement.

She highlighted the importance of this issue and its effect on Khartoum’s vital interests.

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

Mahdi also presented a detailed explanation on the course of the transitional process in her country.

She expressed gratitude for the AU’s continuous support for the transitional period to ensure a smooth transition to sustainable democratic rule.

Faki hailed the transitional government’s efforts to address challenges, topped by the economic crises, according to the foreign ministry spokesman.

He also pointed to his participation at the Paris Conference on Sudan, noting that it “succeeded in mobilizing support for the transitional phase”.

Faki is scheduled to hold meetings and talks with several political figures and heads of the official diplomatic missions in the capital, including Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Volker Perthes.

The AU has been sponsoring the stalled GERD negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia since July last year.



US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
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US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a Houthi-linked petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network across Yemen and the United Arab Emirates in fresh action targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the two individuals and five entities sanctioned on Tuesday were among the most significant importers of petroleum products and money launderers that benefit the Houthis.

"The Houthis collaborate with opportunistic businessmen to reap enormous profits from the importation of petroleum products and to enable the group’s access to the international financial system," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.

"These networks of shady businesses underpin the Houthis’ terrorist machine, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to disrupt these schemes."

Among those targeted on Tuesday was Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, who the Treasury said manages a network of petroleum companies between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and was one of the most prominent petroleum importers in Yemen.

Three companies in his network were also designated, with the Treasury saying they coordinated the delivery of approximately $12 million dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products with a US-designated company to the Houthis.

Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In January, Trump re-designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization, aiming to impose harsher economic penalties in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against US warships defending the critical maritime area.

In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it.