Egypt, Sudan: Ethiopia won't fill disputed dam before accord

leers of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed that Ethiopia will refrain from filling its new hydroelectric dam on Blue Nile next month and return to talks aimed at reaching an agreement among three nations on use of river's waters, according to statements Friday from Egypt and Sudan.

anuncement was a modest reprieve from weeks of bellicose rhetoric and escalating tensions over $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Ethiopia h vowed to start filling at start of rainy season in July.

re was immediate comment from Ethiopia on Friday’s statement, beyond a tweet from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that described an African Union summit discussion about dam as “fruitful.”

Ethiopia has hinged its development ambitions on mega-project, describing dam as a crucial lifeline to bring millions out of poverty. Egypt, which relies on Nile for more than 90% of its water supplies and alrey faces high water stress, fears a devastating impact on its booming population of 100 million. Sudan, which also depends on Nile for water, has played a key role in bringing two sides toger after collapse of U.S.-mediated talks in February.

Just last week, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew declared that his country would start filling dam’s reservoir, after latest round of talks with Egypt and Sudan failed to reach an accord governing how dam will be filled and operated.

After African Union video conference chaired by South Africa on Friday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said that “all parties” h pledged t to take “any unilateral action” by filling dam without a final agreement, said Bassam Ri, Egypt’s presidency spokesman.

Sudan’s state-run media also reported that impasse between Nile basin countries h eased, saying countries h agreed to restart negotiations through a technical committee with aim of reaching a deal in two weeks.

Sticking points in talks have been how much water Ethiopia will release downstream from dam if a multi-year drought occurs and how Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan will resolve any future disagreements.

Both Egypt and Sudan have appealed to U.N. Security Council to intervene in years-long dispute and help Nile basin countries avert a crisis. council is set to hold a public meeting on issue Monday.

Filling dam without an agreement could bring stand-off to a critical juncture. Both Egypt and Ethiopia have hinted at military steps to protect ir interests, and experts fear a breakdown in talks could le to open conflict.