Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Yasser Abbas, on Wednesday, warned that continuing construction of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) without a legally binding agreement poses a direct threat to the country, reported Anadolu Agency.
“Sudan is directly affected by the GERD,” Abbas said during a meeting in Khartoum with Australian Ambassador Glenn Miles. “Continuing the dam’s construction in the absence of a binding agreement poses a direct threat to Sudan.”
The Sudanese minister said the government wants to meet a legally binding agreement first to ensure the exchange of data and information to maintain the safety of the Roseires Dam in southeastern Sudan and the lives of millions on the banks of the Blue Nile.
While addressing the 76th UN General Assembly (UNGA) General Debate last week, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said that Sudan had suffered damages during the filling phases of the GERD. He warned that such unilateral acts by the Ethiopian government threatens the safety of the operation of Sudan’s dams and negatively affect irrigation of agricultural projects and drinking water plants.
He urged that a deal should be reached to ensure that the dam doesn’t cause any harm to the people or other dams in the country.
Ethiopia unilaterally continued with the second phase of filling of the dam last July without reaching a binding deal with both Egypt and Sudan on the filling and operation of the dam.
Egypt and Sudan continue to push for a legal deal that would end their concerns about their water interests and the livelihoods of the people.
The two countries have denounced Ethiopia’s unilateral filling of the dam. They have also blamed the failure of negotiations on Ethiopia’s intransigence.
Earlier this month, the United Nations Security Council urged the three countries to resume their AU-sponsored talks on the GERD and reach a binding agreement.
