Egypt warns of the dangers and repercussions of filling the Ethiopian AL-Nahda Dam unilaterally

The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shukri, warned of the dangers and repercussions of filling the Ethiopian al-Nahda Dam unilaterally and without agreement with Egypt and Sudan, stressing that this represents a “serious threat” to international peace and security.

During a session of the United Nations Security Council to discuss developments on the issue of al-Nahda Dam, Shukri said: “Filling and operating al-Nahda Dam unilaterally and without reaching an agreement that includes the necessary measures to protect the communities in Sudan and Egypt will increase tension and could entrench crises and conflicts that threaten stability in a really troubled region.  This endangers the lives of more than 150 million Egyptian and Sudanese citizens.”

Shukri voiced his country’s position to reach a “fair and balanced” agreement, calling on the UN Security Council and the international community to make efforts and support any initiative that contributes to removing the “danger and raising the threat” in this regard.

Shukri pointed out that the draft resolution submitted by his country for deliberation in the UN Security Council is consistent with the findings of the meeting of the African Union Bureau and calls on the three countries to reach an agreement on al-Nahda Dam within two weeks and not to take unilateral measures in relation to this dam. He stressed that this draft “does not aim to anticipate any negotiation process.”

After a video meeting that included Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and the presidency of the African Union, the Egyptian presidency announced two days ago that it was agreed to form a governmental technical committee from the three countries, jurists and international parties in addition to the African Union and not to take any unilateral measures regarding filling the reservoir of al-Nahda Dam.

Inas Abdulkareem