The vast dam project on the Nile remains a source of contention between Ethiopia and Egypt. EPA
The vast dam project on the Nile remains a source of contention between Ethiopia and Egypt. EPA
The vast dam project on the Nile remains a source of contention between Ethiopia and Egypt. EPA
The vast dam project on the Nile remains a source of contention between Ethiopia and Egypt. EPA

African Union urged to step in and settle Egypt-Ethiopia dam dispute


Kamal Tabikha
  • English
  • Arabic

Ethiopia will continue building its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile river, its Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, despite continuing protest from Egypt.

The comments appeared to respond to Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday calling on Arab nations to step in to settle the dispute over the dam.

An Ethiopian statement said that as "the Nile is an African river”, the dispute therefore must be settled through the African Union.

Mr Shoukry addressed an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Wednesday during which he invited the member states to put pressure on Ethiopia to stop its “unilateral and unco-operative practices and embrace the necessary political will to accept one of the compromise solutions offered on the negotiating table”.

Thursday's Ethiopian statement stressed that the dispute must stop being presented before non-African bodies such as the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League.

“It is an African dispute and its solution will be Africa,” it said.

Cairo, which fears that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will jeopardise its share of vital Nile water, the primary source for the country’s 104 million population, has continuously appealed to foreign actors to mediate in the dispute with Addis Ababa.

However, this was the first time the Egyptians had brought the issue before an Arab coalition.

After repeated negotiations, the last round of which took place in 2021, both sides have thus far failed to reach a binding agreement on the dam’s operation. Addis Ababa hopes to use the dam to generate and sell electricity to its power-starved Nile-basin neighbours. It has repeatedly asserted that the dam is a necessity as 60 per cent of its people live without access to power.

Ethiopia has consistently refused to be bound by an agreement but said it was open to “recommendations” from Egypt on the running of the dam. It maintains it has rights over the river’s main tributary, the Blue Nile, due to its origin at the country's Lake Tana.

Mr Shoukry later said at a Wednesday news conference that Ethiopia must be made to realise that there is a joint Arab position on the dispute and that Addis Ababa has bilateral interests with Arab nations that it must safeguard.

“The dispute over the Renaissance Dam is linked to Arab national security,” he said.

Cairo has also completed a number of infrastructure projects for Nile-basin countries in a bid to gain their support in the dispute with Ethiopia.

In December, the Julius Nyerere dam, an Egyptian-made project in south-east Tanzania, underwent its first filling, which was lauded as a milestone in Egypt’s effort to bolster its foothold in Africa.

Additionally, Egyptian companies are building a number of other projects in Nile-basin countries including two solar power stations in Eritrea and another in Uganda.

British Grand Prix free practice times in the third and final session at Silverstone on Saturday (top five):

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:28.063 (18 laps)

2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:28.095 (14)

3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:28.137 (20)

4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:28.732 (15)

5. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault)  1:29.480 (14)

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
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Director: Shahad Ameen

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The biog

Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children

She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career

She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence

Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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The bio

Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions

School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira

Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk

Dream City: San Francisco

Hometown: Dubai

City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala

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What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The biog

From: Ras Al Khaimah

Age: 50

Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years

Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'

Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'

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Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
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Updated: March 09, 2023, 10:13 AM`