Sudanese and Egyptian Leaders Agree on Consultations Regarding Ethiopian Dam

 Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, visited Egypt and met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. During the talks, the parties agreed to hold bilateral consultations concerning the Ethiopian Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and protecting their countries' rights to access Nile River waters, according to a statement from the Egyptian leader's office.

"The meeting discussed developments related to Nile water resources. In this context, the Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council emphasized the unity of Egyptian and Sudanese positions and the alignment of their interests regarding the dam's construction in Ethiopia. The two leaders agreed to strengthen and intensify consultation and coordination mechanisms between their countries to ensure the protection of their shared water rights," the statement read.

The heads of state also discussed resolving the civil war in Sudan. Al-Sisi confirmed Egypt's support for Sudan's territorial integrity and its rejection of the activities of the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The parties further discussed the importance of the "Sudan Quartet" mechanism—comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt—in conflict resolution and expressed hope for "tangible results" from a mediators' meeting scheduled for October.

Construction of the GERD began in 2011 and was completed on July 3, 2025, with Ethiopia independently financing the majority of the $4.2 billion project. On September 9, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the dam. The GERD is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity, making it Africa's largest hydroelectric power station.

Over the years, the project has been a source of diplomatic tension, particularly between Ethiopia and Egypt, which fears that reduced water flow could impact its share of the Nile.

Following the dam's inauguration, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty submitted a communication to the UN Security Council. Cairo considers the dam's operation a violation of international law due to its potential negative impact on the Nile River basin. Ethiopia, in turn, provided the UN with clarifications in response to Egypt's complaint.

Earlier in October, Egyptian authorities cited the GERD as the cause of Nile flooding in 2025.

Angelina Shemyakina