Cairo stated Egypt’s president can even focus on Crimson Sea safety with Sudanese leaders throughout his go to to Khartoum.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited Sudan on Saturday for the primary time for the reason that overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir, because the neighbours push to interrupt a diplomatic impasse over a large dam being constructed by Ethiopia.
El-Sisi was additionally on account of focus on Crimson Sea safety and developments on Sudan’s borders throughout his go to to Khartoum, Egypt’s presidency stated in a press release.
Sudan faces safety challenges together with a rise in violence within the western Darfur area and up to date armed skirmishes in a disputed space on its border with Ethiopia.
Each Egypt and Sudan lie downstream from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Addis Ababa says is essential to its financial growth.
Ethiopia, which says it has each proper to make use of Nile waters lengthy exploited by Egypt, began filling the reservoir behind the dam final yr after Egypt and Sudan did not safe a legally binding settlement over the hydropower dam’s operation.
Khartoum fears the dam, which lies on the Blue Nile near the border with Sudan, might improve the danger of flooding and have an effect on the protected operation of its personal Nile dams, whereas water-scarce Egypt fears its provides from the Nile might be hit.
Years of diplomatic talks over the mission have repeatedly stalled.
Sudan not too long ago proposed that the US, European Union, United Nations and African Union ought to actively mediate within the dispute, moderately than merely observing talks, a suggestion that Egypt helps.
Ethiopia this week indicated its opposition to including mediators to an present, African Union-led course of.
In a cellphone name with UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres on Friday, Egyptian Overseas Minister Sameh Shoukry “pressured the necessity to launch a critical and efficient negotiation course of” over the dam earlier than a second spherical of filling anticipated this summer time.
Since al-Bashir was toppled following mass protests in 2019, a military-civilian council has held energy in Sudan beneath a political transition anticipated to final till the top of 2023.