Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on Monday reaffirmed Sudan’s adherence to the leadership of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia’s Nile dam issue.
“Our official position continues to adhere to African Union’s leadership in the Renaissance Dam issue,” said Hamdok at a press conference in Khartoum.
Sudan and Ethiopia are discussing about Sudan’s return to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiating table after Ethiopian Irrigation Minister arrived in Khartoum earlier in the day.
Sudan decided not to participate in a ministerial meeting regarding the GERD that was convened on Nov. 21.
Sudan demands the GERD talks go beyond the level of irrigation ministers to the leaders of the three countries and the African Union and U.S. observers be given a status of mediators, changes in which Egypt and Ethiopia apparently find no interest.
Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia have been negotiating under the African Union over technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.
Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its fresh water, are concerned that the Nile dam might affect their water resources.
Egypt and Sudan are seeking a legally binding deal that would guarantee the appropriate flows of water and a legal mechanism for resolving disputes before the dam starts operating.
