The United Nations Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, reported that recent negotiations within the framework of the African Union have resulted in little progress.
The two parties were unable to agree on a framework to participate in the settlement of outstanding issues, which includes a dispute resolution mechanism as well as the management of the dam during the protracted drought.
“The United Nations remains ready to promote a win-win solution in supporting member states in dealing with this complex issue, where real political will, consensus and good neighborliness are essential,” he said.
rising tensions
The dispute over the Renaissance Dam dates back to April 2011, when Ethiopia began building the dam on the Blue Nile, which is set to be the largest hydroelectric project in Africa.
Upon completion, it will store 74 billion cubic meters of water and generate more than 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
Construction is nearing completion, and last year the reservoir behind the dam began filling up for the first time. Ethiopia announced this week that it has started filling up again.
Egypt and Sudan objected, stating that any further mobilization would have to take place within the context of an agreed framework.
While shared water resources have been the cause of disagreement, they can also be the basis for cooperation, said the head of the United Nations Environment Program (United Nations Environment Program), Inger Andersen, Ambassadors.
“At this stage, and with the increase in other regional sources of tension, we must realize that overcoming the remaining differences between the parties will require careful and careful work, supported by relevant technical and legal experts and with determination by the three countries to reach a cooperative solution, seeking to achieve sustainable development for all in a spirit” One river, one people, one vision.
agreement is possible
Ms. Andersen stressed that an agreement on the dam can and must be reached, emphasizing the readiness of the United Nations to support countries, and the African Union, to reach an agreement that benefits all parties.
She added that cooperation between the three countries has never been more important with the high demand for water, due to factors such as population growth, urbanization and industrialization. At the same time, they are also at risk of increasing floods and severe droughts, due to climate change.
“It is therefore imperative that both parties work together to manage these interconnected challenges,” she said. “To reach an ideal agreement, trust, transparency and open participation will be key.”
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