May 29, 2021 (KHARTOUM) – Senegalese President Macky Sall called to follow the experience of the Senegal River countries to settle the dispute between Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt over the Renaissance Dam.
On Saturday, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi met with Senegalese President Macky Sall within the framework of a regional tour in western Africa.
The meeting with Sall who is also the First Vice-Chairperson of the African Union discussed bilateral ties and the existing dispute with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
According to a statement issued by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, on Saturday, al-Mahdi briefed Maky about Sudan’s position on the filling and operation of the giant dam.
She reiterated Sudan’s keenness on African solutions to African issues pointing that the Sudanese initiative for a quartet of mediators led by the African Union comes within this spirit.
The Sudanese top diplomat further expressed Sudan’s desire to see the Senegalese president contributing to the ongoing efforts to reach an agreement before the second filling of the GERD planned for next July.
Addis Ababa rejects the initiative to sign a legally binding agreement on the Renaissance Dam, stressing that it has full right to the waters of the Blue Nile that originates from the Ethiopian Lake Tana.
President Sall suggested using the experience of the Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS) which includes Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal and establishing cooperative management that serves the common goals of the riparian countries.
“Senegal’s experience of more than 40 years with the OMVS represents a successful experience of cooperative partnership based on joint investment projects and can serve as a model for resolving the issue of the Renaissance Dam,” he said according to the statement.
“Sall added he would raise this matter at the meeting of the AU Bureau and would reach out to President of Congo Félix Tshisekedi who is also the President of the African Union to discuss ways to reach a solution satisfactory to all parties,” added the Sudanese foreign ministry.
Source: Sudan Tribune