:This handout picture released by the Egyptian Presidency shows (L to R) African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chad's President General Mahamat Idriss Deby, Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit, the Chairman of the Tripoli-based Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit posing for a family photo during a regional summit for neighbouring nations impacted by the three-month war between Sudan's rival generals in Cairo on July 13, 2023. (Photo by EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY / AFP) / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / EGYPTIAN PRESIDENCY' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ==
Cairo: Egypt and Ethiopia agreed to begin urgent negotiations to finalize the agreement regarding the filling of the Renaissance Dam and the rules for its operation, and to make all necessary efforts to complete it within four months.
Today, the two countries issued a joint statement to discuss overcoming the current stalemate in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam negotiations.
The statement indicated that during the period of these negotiations, Ethiopia made clear its commitment not to cause harm to Egypt and Sudan, in what provide the water needs of both countries, during the filling of the dam during the 2023/2024 season.
The two sides reaffirmed their emphasis on strengthening bilateral relations, based on the common desire to achieve their interests, and to achieve stability, peace, and security in the region.
It is noteworthy that the two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, oppose the Ethiopian unilateral steps, and several rounds of negotiations were held that did not lead to final solutions.
The dam is located on the Blue Nile, and its foundation stone was laid in April 2011.
It is the largest of its kind in the African continent, and its cost is estimated at about $5 billion.
The storage capacity of the dam’s lake is 74 billion cubic meters of water.
