Ethiopia to inaugurate disputed GERD within 6 months: PM Abiy Ahmed - Foreign Affairs
"This will be recorded as a proud history of Ethiopia," he said, according to the Ethiopian News Agency.
PM Ahmed added that the project represents a triumph in overcoming economic pressures through self-sufficiency and collective effort.
During a parliamentary Q&A session, Ahmed asserted that his government had fulfilled its promises as the GERD's filling had not caused water shortages in Egypt's High Dam.
He added that Ethiopia would engage in diplomatic discussions regarding the GERD to safeguard the interests of downstream nations.
The multi-billion dollar GERD, which has been under construction on the Nile River since 2010, has long been a source of regional dispute with Cairo and Khartoum.
Addis Ababa deems the project essential for producing electricity and economic development.
Although Cairo and Khartoum have never expressed any opposition to the Ethiopian development goals, they have sought a legally binding deal on the filling and operation of the dam as per international law and the principles governing transnational watercourses.
However, between 2020 and 2024, Ethiopia unilaterally completed the five-phase filling of the dam, bringing two turbines into operation, despite the absence of an agreement with downstream nations.
Egypt, which relies on the Nile River for 97 percent of its water needs, fears that the GERD will harm its already scarce water supply.
Similarly, Sudan is concerned about the impact of Ethiopia's unilateral actions on the safety of its dams.
A decade of on-off negotiations between the downstream nations and Ethiopia has failed to produce an agreement that ensures their water security and dam safety while addressing Ethiopia's interests.
In December 2023, Cairo announced the end of the GERD negotiations track due to Ethiopia's persistent rejection of any proposed technical or legal solutions.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
11 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Erdogan tells Putin Turkey backs Ukraine peace talks involving 'all parties': Presidency - War in Ukraine
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday informed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by phone that Turkey would support a process involving "all parties" for peace in Ukraine, the Turkish presidency said. Erdogan told Putin that "Turkey has sincerely strived for a just peace since the beginning of the war, and in this context, supports approaches aimed at establishing lasting peace with the participation of all parties," his office said in a statement. Turkey, which enjoys friendly ties with both its Black Sea neighbors, has hosted three rounds of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia since May. Ankara has often insisted on the protection of Ukraine's territorial integrity while shying away from Western sanctions on Russia. US President Donald Trump held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington on Monday, three days after his landmark encounter with Putin in Alaska. NATO head Mark Rutte called Erdogan on Tuesday by phone on his way back to Europe after that meeting, the Turkish presidency said. The pair discussed "Turkey's contribution to the peace process, as one of NATO's most important countries" and agreed to remain on close coordination, according to the presidency. They also exchanged views on feasible and sustainable security guarantees, the statement said, without further elaboration. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
15 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Iran says will deploy new missiles if Israel attacks again - Region
Iran said Wednesday it was prepared for any new Israeli attack, announcing it has developed missiles with greater capabilities than those used during their recent 12-day war. "The missiles used in the 12-day war were manufactured... a few years ago," Defence Minister Aziz Nassirzadeh said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency. "Today, we have manufactured and possess missiles with far greater capabilities than previous missiles, and if the Zionist enemy embarks on the adventure again, we will undoubtedly use them." In mid-June, Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a war in which Iran responded with missile and drone strikes. The Israeli offensive killed senior military commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds of others, striking both military sites and residential areas. The United States briefly joined the war with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been in place since June 24. Iranian officials have since warned that another round of fighting could erupt at any moment, emphasising that Tehran does not seek war but remains prepared for any confrontation. On Monday, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Iran should be "prepared at every moment for confrontation". "We are not even in a ceasefire; we are in a cessation of hostilities," he added. Iranian media reported that the army is to begin a two-day military exercise on Thursday, featuring a wide range of short and medium-range cruise missiles. Western governments have repeatedly voiced concern about Iran's missile programme, calling it a threat to regional security. In July, France called for a "comprehensive deal" with Tehran that covers not only its nuclear programme but also its missile programme and its regional ambitions. Iran has insisted that its military capabilities are not up for negotiation. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
16 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Zamalek Club slams Housing Ministry after land withdrawal decision - Society
A legal showdown is looming between Zamalek Sporting Club and Egypt's Ministry of Housing after the ministry announced the withdrawal of land allocated to the club in 6th of October City. In a Facebook post early Wednesday, the club's legal adviser, Kamal Mostafa Shoaib, described the ministry's statement on the issue as 'disastrous' and riddled with 'blatant errors.' He demanded accountability and the dismissal of those responsible. Shoaib argued the club had never been officially notified of withdrawal procedures, as the ministry claimed. Even if such notice had been issued, he said, regulations stipulate a 30-day grace period, whereas the decision came just seven days later. He added that the proper process—referral to sub- and central committees—was bypassed, and Zamalek had neither received an official withdrawal notice nor been granted the 60 days available to appeal. The adviser further contended that the ministry had withheld required building permits, which he argued legally delays the start of the project deadlines. He pointed out that Ministerial Decree No. 1084 of 2024, published in April 2025, clearly stipulates that deadlines begin the day after its publication, meaning the two-year presidential grace period should run from April 2025 to April 2027. Concluding his remarks, Shoaib said Zamalek and its fans 'do not deserve this treatment' and insisted that accountability is needed for what he described as a flawed and unjust decision. The ministry's statement Late Tuesday, the Housing Ministry issued a clarification stressing that the land withdrawal in Hadayek October was executed on 19 August 2025 after repeated extensions and and failure to show progress on the project. The statement, accompanied by a silent video showing the lack of progress, explained that the land was initially allocated to the Club in 2003. Despite facilitation, only one percent of planned work had been completed by November 2023. In 2021, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi granted Zamalek a final two-year grace period to complete construction on condition that the land and any structures revert to the Hadayek October City Authority in case of non-compliance. In April 2024, Zamalek submitted an accelerated plan promising completion by July 2025, but monitoring showed 'no significant progress.' The ministry said the club was formally warned on 4 June 2025, with a withdrawal decision issued on 11 June and implemented on 19 August. The Ministry's statement additionally referred to the letter issued by the Advisor to the President of the Republic for Urban Planning on 4 August 2025. It said the letter was issued after the withdrawal decision had already been taken, and therefore, the opinion expressed in it was not applicable. The issue of the letter in question was raised by the Club's officials, who contended the withdrawal decision by saying that they 'received a letter from the Presidential Urban Planning Advisor confirming the President's directive to grant Zamalek an additional two-year grace period starting from 2024.' Club response Board member Hesham Nasr reiterated Zamalek's commitment to the contract terms and vowed to pursue legal action to protect the club's rights. In a televised interview, Nasr expressed surprise at the decision, noting that Zamalek had received an official letter from the ministry granting an additional year to adjust permits, which allowed the club to continue work on-site legally. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
