This archive report was first published on 10 May 2021.
Published on May 10, 2021, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has embarked on an African tour to mediate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
The GERD, the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, has been a subject of controversy among the three countries, with each taking a firm stand. President Tshisekedi, who is the current president of the African Union, aims to facilitate direct dialogue between the parties to reach a suitable solution.
During his visit to Sudan, President Tshisekedi held talks with top officials, including President Abdel Fattah Abdelrahmane al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Adam Hamdok. The talks focused on the differences between upstream and downstream countries over the renaissance dam.
President Tshisekedi also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and foreign and sectoral ministers concerned with water and environment management. The Congolese president has offered to lead the mediation efforts and will also visit Ethiopia as part of the mission.
US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman also held talks with top Sudanese officials over the GERD and Sudan-Ethiopia border tensions. Feltman emphasized the importance of leading the negotiations under the umbrella of the African Union with the involvement of the international community.
