Egypt’s president defends dialogue to resolve dispute with Ethiopia

Cairo, Jul 16 (Prensa Latina) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called to peacefully resolve the dispute with Ethiopia over the construction of a dam on the Nile River, although he clarified that he currently maintains other ways open in the interest of the country.

July 16, 2021
07:11

Let us seek a legally binding agreement that brings us prosperity, security and peace, the president said on Thursday evening during the launch in Cairo of a program to fight poverty in the countryside.

El-Sisi estimated that Egypt and Sudan can reach a pact with Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

However, he warned that his country has the economic and military power to impose its will and defend its interests.

Tension escalated this month after Addis Ababa announced the start of the second stage of filling of the dam, a decision questioned by Cairo and Khartoum, whose governments claim that this action should not have started without an agreement between the parties because they fear a substantial drop in their access to the river water.

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