This archive report was first published on 16 September 2021.
Published on September 16, 2021, the UN Security Council adopted a statement encouraging Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to resume negotiations under the African Union's auspices to conclude a deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The Security Council called for a mutually acceptable and binding agreement on the dam's filling and operation within a reasonable timeframe, citing the need for a swift resolution to the dispute.
Members of the UN's top security body also invited observers to continue supporting the negotiations, with the aim of facilitating the resolution of outstanding technical and legal issues.
Despite differing opinions on the need for UN involvement, the Security Council's statement emphasized the importance of a constructive and cooperative approach to the negotiations.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has been at the center of a nearly decade-long diplomatic standoff between Ethiopia and downstream nations Egypt and Sudan, with Ethiopia viewing the project as essential to its development and Cairo and Khartoum fearing it could restrict their citizens' water access.
