The Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency stated that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received a phone call from United States President Joe Biden on Monday during which the two leaders exchanged views on the developments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis. President Biden highlighted Washington’s acknowledgement of the critical nature of this issue for the Egyptian people, indicating that he is dedicated to supporting Egypt’s water security. The two leaders also agreed that diplomatic efforts would be strengthened in the coming period to reach a conclusive agreement that guarantees the rights of all parties to development. A Sudanese official told Reuters that Ethiopia already began the second phase of filling the dam’s reservoir in early May, citing data on river flows collected by Sudanese technical records indicating changes in the Nile River’s water levels. However, according to Bloomberg, Ethiopia denied the reports. “This is not true,” Ethiopian Water Minister Seleshi Bekele said, reiterating that the reports made by Sudanese officials are “deliberately misleading statements targeted to confuse everyone.” On Saturday, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that Ethiopia’s plan to push for a unilateral approach with the second filling of GERD…
US President Joe Biden Affirms Support for Egypt’s Water Security in GERD Crisis
May 26, 2021
