Egypt and Ethiopia are hoping to reach a breakthrough in the regional dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt and Ethiopia agreed Thursday to finalise a deal over Ethiopia's controversial mega-dam on the Blue Nile within four months, a breakthrough after years of tensions between the two countries. They agreed "to initiate expedited negotiations to finalise the agreement between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the filling" of the dam and its operation within four months, the statement said. Protracted negotiations over the filling and operation of the dam since 2011 have failed to bring about an agreement between Ethiopia and its downstream neighbours. Egypt has long viewed the dam as an existential threat, as it relies on the Nile for 97 percent of its water needs.

Source: Ethiopian News July 14, 2023 05:16 UTC