Sudan: Ethiopian Unilateral Measures are Rejected and No Solution without Binding Agreement

The Ethiopian authorities announced today (Monday) completion of the filling of the Renaissance Dam for the current season in a unilateral measure for the second year successively.

In response to this announcement, the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources renewed in a statement its firm position on Sudan rejection of the unilateral measures from neighboring Ethiopia and the policies of imposing a fait accompli and ignoring the legitimate interests and serious concerns of its river partners.

The ministry affirmed that the best alternative to this Ethiopian approach, which will only lead to harming the distinguished historical relations between the two brotherly countries and peoples, is to continue negotiation, in good faith, to reach a binding and comprehensive legal agreement that preserves the interests of all parties and addresses their concerns, particularly the safe operation of the Rosseires Dam.

The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources stressed its belief that it is not too late, and that reaching the desired agreement is very necessary, possible and available, if the political will is existing.

The ministry assured the citizens that the responsible authorities have been working for months to anticipate and take appropriate technical and administrative measures to reduce the actual and possible negative effects of the unilateral filling for the second year successively at a high economic and social cost, in addition to the heavy burden inflicted on the citizens due to the shortage in electricity and drinking water supplies

According to the ministry, if the technical precautions for operating systems in the Rosseires and Jabal Awliya reservoirs were not changed, the results would have been disastrous in terms of providing the levels required for drinking water stations and for generating electricity power.