A Sudanese supreme committee approved a proposal to involve the African Union, United Nations, European Union and United States in mediating negotiations around the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The committee stressed the Khartoum’s refusal of the second filling of the dam before an agreement on its filling is reached. The new committee’s proposal stipulates that the four parties should play the role of mediator and facilitator in the negotiations, instead of remaining as observers. After negotiations stalled between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, Khartoum asked the African Union to form a committee of experts to monitor negotiations and play a greater role in converging views, in order to avoid prolonging the negotiation process. Because of the implications, Sudan has called the filling a threat to national security.

Source: Egypt Independent February 19, 2021 11:15 UTC