Sudan’s Burhan raises Renaissance Dam deal hopes after meeting with Ethiopia PM

Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the de facto leader of Sudan reportedly announced on Saturday that there was a possibility of reaching an agreement with Ethiopia over the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Burhan met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in the Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar over the weekend. 

⭕️ برئاسة البرهان وأبي أحمد- إنعقاد جلسة مباحثات مشتركة بين السودان وأثيوبيا pic.twitter.com/8xXKddsuy0

— مجلس السيادة الإنتقالي - السودان (@TSC_SUDAN) October 15, 2022

Burhan said it would be "possible to reach an agreement on the technical issues of the dam", Arabic-language media reported, citing a statement from Sudan's leadership.

Ahmed said that the building of the controversial Renaissance Dam on the Nile would not be at the expense of Sudan, according to reports.

Ahmed also proposed strengthening Ethiopia’s and Sudan’s economic ties during their meeting.  

These statements indicate a softening of Sudan’s stance on Ethiopia’s controversial megaproject. 

The Ethiopian PM considers that the #Renaissance_Dam project will bring great benefits to #Sudan and proposes the establishment of an economic integration mechanism between the two countries.#Ethiopia

— خالد اسكيف (@khalediskef) October 15, 2022

The hydroelectric dam project that began in 2011 sparked a long, bitter dispute between Ethiopia and downstream Egypt and Sudan, two countries heavily dependent on the Nile for their water needs.

Egypt and Sudan have said the dam on the Nile could lead to catastrophic levels of water scarcity.

Addis Ababa maintains that the dam is an important source of regional energy and a catalyst for development. 

Earlier this year, Ahmed announced that the third filling of the dam had been completed.