Sudanese Minister of Cabinet Affairs Khaled Omar Youssef said Saturday that the process of initiating the second filling of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a very dangerous step that threatens the security and safety of Sudan.<\/p>\n
Sudan is committed not to allow any side to threaten its security and peace or the interests of its citizens, he added in a press conference following a three-day closed meeting of the country’s cabinet.<\/p>\n
Cabinet decisions include intensifying efforts in the issue of the Renaissance Dam in a way that achieves the interests of Sudan and the safety of its citizens, resources and water facilities, Youssef said.<\/p>\n
“We adhere to the peaceful option, and all means to defend our country and not allow any party to threaten its security,” he added.<\/p>\n
Ethiopia conducted its first filling in July 2020 with 5 billion cubic meters. The total capacity of the reservoir is 74 billion cubic meters to be filled over several years [the years number is still one of the disagreements between the three countries].<\/p>\n
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are at loggerheads over the $4-billion dam; Cairo voiced concern over its water share [55.5 billion cubic meters] after Ethiopia started building the dam on the Blue Nile in May 2011.<\/p>\n
In 2015, the three countries signed the Declaration of Principles, per which the downstream countries [Egypt and Sudan] should not be negatively affected by the construction of the dam.<\/p>\n
In March 2021, Egypt\u2019s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stated, \u201cNo one can take a drop of water from Egypt… If it happens, there will be inconceivable instability in the region that no one could imagine. This is not a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sudan, as well has warned more than once of filling the GERD before reaching a legal binding agreement.<\/p>\n
Ethiopia, on the other side affirms that the second filling will be conducted, despite all negotiations and mediations.<\/p>\n
Earlier in May, Egypt slammed recent Ethiopian remarks reiterating the unilateral plans to complete the Grand Dam (GERD) filling despite the absence of an agreement with Egypt and Sudan, saying it reveals Ethiopia\u2019s bad intentions and efforts to undermine the ongoing mediation efforts.<\/p>\n
The Ethiopian foreign ministry said it plans to start generating power from GERD in the upcoming rainy season between June and August.<\/p>\n
The Egyptian ministry said its statement comes in response to Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti\u2019s reiteration that his country will implement the second dam filling even if the three countries do not reach an agreement on the filling and operation of the dam.<\/p>\n
The Ethiopian spokesman\u2019s remarks \u201creveal again Ethiopia\u2019s bad intentions and its endeavor to undermine the ongoing efforts by international and African mediators to resolve the GERD crisis,\u201d the Egyptian ministry said.<\/p>\n
Egypt added that the Ethiopian remarks also show the latter\u2019s \u201cdesire to impose the fait accompli against the downstream countries, a matter that Egypt did not and will not accept\u201d.<\/p>\n
Egypt Today<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sudanese Minister of Cabinet Affairs Khaled Omar Youssef said Saturday that the process of initiating the second filling of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a very dangerous step that threatens the security and safety of Sudan. Sudan is committed not to allow any side to threaten its security and peace or the interests of its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7863],"tags":[2484,15565,62518,69921,8470,8282],"class_list":["post-233743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-english-section","tag-egypt","tag-ethiopia","tag-gerd-crisis","tag-khaled-omar-youssef","tag-sisi","tag-sudan"],"yoast_head":"\n