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No request for international mediation in GERD talks received: Ethiopia official Sudan announced earlier it had submitted formal request for quadripartite international mediation
Egypt and Sudan have not submitted any proposal to Ethiopia for a quadripartite mediation in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations, according to Dina Mufti, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson. According to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Mufti added that the tripartite talks between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt regarding the disputed GERD issues will be concluded by the three countries, rather than the negotiators. He further said, "The role of the mediators is the coordination, not division, and the negotiators of the three countries would put the final touches on the agreement." "We have great respect for the African Union (AU) and its role in solving the problems of the African continent," he added, stressing that Ethiopia is always ready to negotiate. However, Mufti noted that if the negotiations end before filling, then Ethiopia will not face a problem. On Monday, Sudan announced that it had submitted a formal request for quadripartite international mediation to resolve the dispute with Ethiopia over the controversial dam. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdouk sent letters to the United States (US), the European Union (EU), the AU, and the United Nations (UN), to engage in the talks. These will take place with the hopes that a consensus will be reached on the dispute over the filling and operation of GERD. Two weeks ago, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed the organisation's readiness to play a role in the ongoing negotiations over the controversial giant Ethiopian dam. "The UN is available to support and participate in the AU-led negotiation process on the GERD," Guterres said in a telephone conversation with Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry. Guterres offered the UN's availability to mediate in the talks at the invitation of the AU Chairperson and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi. The UN head's offer is based on the hope that the process will count on the full engagement of the parties in serious negotiations.
