Ethiopia, Sudan discuss resumption of Nile dam talks

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Ethiopia's minister of water, irrigation and energy held a virtual meeting with his Sudanese counterpart over the resumption of the trilateral talks on the Nile dam project, local media reported on Wednesday.

Ethiopia’s Selesh Bekele and Sudan’s Yassir Abbas Mohammed -- along with their respective delegations -- exchanged views on the procedural aspects of resuming the negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and other key concerns of each country, the broadcaster FANA reported.

The US-sponsored talks between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt broke down in February after Ethiopia withdrew accusing the US Treasury Department of siding with Egypt.

Ethiopia said it will begin filling its hydro dam in July. Frustrated, Egypt launched massive diplomatic war on Ethiopia on an international scale, escalating tension in the region.

Two weeks ago all three countries agreed to Sudanese proposal to resume talks as soon as possible.

It is not clear whether talks will be mediated by a third party, but Ethiopia said it preferred the African Union as mediator should there be mediation.

Recently the European Union also has been pressing desire to chip in as mediator, but Egypt still wants the US to involve.