This archive report was first published on 7 July 2021.
July 7, 2021
Ethiopia has lodged a formal protest with the United Nations over the Arab League's alleged interference in the country's massive Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project.
The move comes after the Arab League submitted a letter to the UN Security Council and General Assembly, urging the international community to intervene in the long-standing dispute between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.
"Ethiopia rejects the unwelcome meddling by the League of Arab States on the matter of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)," the protest letter stated.
According to the letter, the Arab League's actions are a breach of the African Union's (AU) efforts to resolve the dispute through tripartite negotiations.
"The approach followed by the League risks undermining the friendly and cooperative relations between AU and the Arab League since the trilateral negotiation on the GERD is underway under the auspices of the African Union (AU)," the letter added.
Ethiopia has called on the international community to support the AU-led negotiation process and encourage Egypt and Sudan to abide by the principles of international law on transboundary water resources.
