Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to meet Saturday in DR Congo

April 1, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia will meet in the Congolese capital for talks on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on Saturday.

The foreign minister of the riparian countries will meet from 3-5 April in Kinshasa, sources at the foreign ministry and presidency in Kinshasa told the AFP confirming a report published Wednesday by the Jeune Afrique.

It will be the first to be hosted by President Felix Tshisekedi, who took over the chair of the African Union last February.

The meeting will be attended by the chairman of the AU’s Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, according to Jeune Afrique.

However, the agenda of the discussions was yet not released.

Sudan has called to establish a four-way mediation headed by the African Union including the European Union, the United States, and the United Nations.

Egypt backed the proposition but Ethiopia said they want an AU mediation.

“Talks to change the modalities of the negotiations should be treated according to the provisions of the DOP, which was signed by the tripartite in 2015,” said the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry.

The DOP provides that the three parties will settle any dispute over the DOP implementation through consultation or negotiation in accordance with the principle of good faith.

“If the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute through consultation or negotiation, they may jointly request for conciliation, mediation or refer the matter for the consideration of the Heads of State/Head of Government,” reads the Declaration.

(ST)