DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Egypt criticized Ethiopia’s “unilateral actions” after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the completion of the fourth and final phase of filling Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam.
Earlier on Sunday, the Ethiopian Prime Minister announced the victory of Addis Ababa in the fourth and final filling round of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the Ethiopian News Agency reported.
The Ethiopian News Agency quoted Abi Ahmed as writing on his Facebook page: “We have faced internal challenges and external pressures. We have overcome all these things and reached this stage.” He called on Ethiopians to continue their support until the dam is completed.
“This is Ethiopia’s continuation in violating the Declaration of Principles signed between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in 2015. The three countries must agree on the rules for filling and operating the Ethiopian Dam,” the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the completion of the fourth filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
“Ethiopia taking such unilateral measures is ignoring the interests and rights of the two downstream countries and their water security, which is guaranteed by the provisions of international law.”
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out, “This attitude and the resulting negative consequences put a burden on the course of the resumed negotiations, which were set for four months to conclude, and are believed to be scheduled for its next round. In Addis Ababa, we will see a concrete and real progress on the path to reach.” Agreement on rules for filling and operating the dam.
Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia resumed talks last month, with Cairo and Khartoum trying to reach a binding agreement with Addis Ababa on the operation and replenishment of the Renaissance Dam, especially during periods of drought.
Ethiopia wants to bring the total water stored in the dam lake to 74 billion cubic meters, while it is expected to build a new 20-meter bend in the body of the dam. The dam is 145 meters high and 1.8 kilometers long.
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