Egypt Acknowledges Ethiopian Filling of Blue Nile Dam Not a Problem This Year

 Agence France Press published on 19 May 2021 an article titled "Egypt Foreign Minister Says Water Safe Despite Ethiopian Dam Threat."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is quoted as saying "We are confident the second filling of the dam [Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile] by Ethiopia won't affect Egyptian water interests adversely.  We can deal with it through strict management of our water resources."

The Egypt Independent published on 19 May 2021 a similar account titled "The Second Filling of the GERD Will Not Impact Our Interests, Assures Egypt's FM."

Comment:  I have been making this argument for the past two years.  

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Powers Joy and Dread

 The Washington Post published on 15 October 2020 an article titled "Africa's Largest Dam Powers Dreams of Prosperity in Ethiopia--and Fears of Hunger in Egypt" by Max Bearak and Sudarsan Raghavan.

The authors assess the impact of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile from the perspective of Ethiopians who seek adequate electricity and Egyptian farmers who want to grow crops in the desert.  

Podcast on Nile Water and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

The New Africa Daily recently posted a podcast of more than one hour on issues relating to Nile waters and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.  Talar Belrhiti was the moderator.  The panelists were Hafsa Halawa, Middle East Institute, Addisu Lashitew, Brookings Institution, and myself. 

Egypt and Ethiopia: The Curse of the Nile

The Wilson Center published on 7 July 2020 an analysis titled "Egypt and Ethiopia: The Curse of the Nile" by Marina Ottaway.

The author suggests the best short-term scenario is a stop-gap agreement that will allow Ethiopia to start filling the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on a compromise timetable acceptable to Egypt, which would walk back its military threats.  Egypt could also take steps to improve the efficiency of water management for agriculture and domestic consumption. 

Grand Renaissance Dam Back on Egypt's Agenda

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa published on 28 November 2013 a commentary titled "Egypt's Transitional Government Prepares for Battle over Ethiopia's Giant Dam on the Nile" by Peter Fabricius, foreign editor of Independent Newspapers.  He believes that Egypt's transitional government is taking a softer approach to the dispute than the Morsi government.