The fourth round of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) between Egypt and Ethiopia has ended in a stalemate, with both countries expressing differing perspectives on the outcome.
Following the conclusion of the negotiations on December 19, 2023, Egypt's Ministry of Irrigation stated that the talks in Addis Ababa "did not yield any results" due to Ethiopia's refusal to accept compromise solutions, a statement which Ethiopia rejected.
Egypt accuses Ethiopia of exploiting the negotiation process to solidify its control over the Blue Nile, in violation of international law, and claims its right to closely monitor the dam's filling and operation while warning of potential repercussions to its water and national security.
Ethiopia, however, maintains its commitment to a negotiated settlement. In its statement, Ethiopia highlights the understanding reached between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Abdel Fatah el Sisi to finalize the rules and guidelines for the dam's first filling and annual operation.
Ethiopia accuses Egypt of maintaining a "colonial-era mentality" and hindering efforts towards convergence. Ethiopia emphasizes its rights to utilize Nile River waters equitably and reasonably, while seeking to enhance confidence and build trust among the three countries involved.
The GERD negotiations have faced numerous challenges, with previous talks breaking down in 2021 after an African Union reconciliation initiative failed.
Egypt consistently called for a binding agreement with Ethiopia to secure their respective shares of Nile River water, whereas Ethiopia has been calling for agreeable outcomes based on equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile River waters, a core principle of the declaration.