August 1, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan and Egypt have agreed on a 16-month plan to rehabilitate the Jebel Aulia Dam south of Khartoum, beginning with the construction of a temporary bridge, Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation said on Saturday.

The bridge over the dam was destroyed in November 2023 during shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, though the main dam structure remained largely intact, according to the Sudanese military.

Meetings were held in Khartoum between Sudanese irrigation officials and a technical committee formed by the Joint Permanent Technical Commission for Nile Waters, a bilateral body representing Sudan and Egypt.

Temporary bridge planned within four months to restore transit

The ministry said work on a temporary bridge is expected to be completed within the first four months to restore traffic flow, ahead of full rehabilitation works planned over 16 months.

Officials reviewed field assessments, technical specifications, and engineering requirements needed to begin structural repairs on the facility.

Daw al-Bait Abdul Rahman, undersecretary at the Sudanese irrigation ministry, called for fast-tracking repairs, stating the dam suffered degradation after RSF forces used it to transport heavy armour and operated its mechanisms without technical oversight.

Assessment highlights damage to lock and mobile bridge

The Jebel Aulia Dam, located 44 km (27 miles) south of Khartoum, was built between 1933 and 1937. It holds a storage capacity of 3.5 billion cubic meters of water, aids in power generation, and supports local fishing and irrigation.

Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam received a detailed technical report assessing the dam’s structural integrity following joint inspections, his ministry said.

The report outlined urgent maintenance priorities required to ensure operational safety before launching a broader restoration program.

Sewilam directed Egyptian teams to maintain close technical coordination with Sudan and expedite supply requirements, emphasizing Cairo’s readiness to provide technical expertise under long-standing bilateral water agreements.