Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan Sign Breakthrough Agreement on Grand Renaissance Dam, Opening the Way for Cooperation

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Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan Sign Breakthrough Agreement on Grand Renaissance Dam, Opening the Way for Cooperation

March 24, 2015 (EIRNS)—Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia signed an agreement approving Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, which will generate 6,000 Megawatts of electricity. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn yesterday signed an agreement in Khartoum, according to today’s Guardian.

"I confirm the construction of the Renaissance Dam will not cause any damage to our three states and especially to the Egyptian people,"

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was quoted as saying at the signing ceremony.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi remarked that

"this is a framework agreement and it will be completed. We have chosen cooperation, and to trust one another for the sake of development."

He said the final accord will

"achieve benefits and development for Ethiopia without harming Egypt and Sudan’s interests."

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir hailed the deal as "historic."

This sets aside a major point of conflict among these major African countries, opening the way to more economic cooperation.