U.S. envoy in Khartoum for talks on GERD, Ethiopia
May 7, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman arrived in Khartoum on Friday for talks with Sudanese officials over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Feltman before arriving in the Sudanese capital was in Cairo where discussed the GERD with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aty.
His regional tour from May 4 to May 13 includes Ethiopia and Eritrea as he intends to discuss the situation in the Tigray region.
During his two-day visit, he is expected to hold talks with the head of the Sovereign Council, the Prime Minister, Foreign and Irrigation Ministers.
The visiting diplomat will discuss the stalled GERD and border standoff between Sudan and Ethiopia.
Sudan and Egypt call for a legally binding agreement on the filing and operation of the GERD but Ethiopia rejects their request, saying such a deal will prevent the upstream country from using its water resources.
Khartoum proposes a four-way mediation led by the African Union that Ethiopia rejects. Instead, Assis Ababa calls to continue the direct talks under the auspices of the African Union.
(ST)