Sudan warns window closing in Nile dam dispute, asks UN help

Sudan has joined Egypt in asking U.N. Security Council to intervene in a dispute over Ethiopia’s newly built hydroelectric dam on Blue Nile, warning that window for three countries to reach an agreement “is closing by hour.”

Sudanese Foreign Minister Asmaa Mohammed Abdalla asked council in a letter obtained Thursday by Associated Press to call on leers of three countries “to demonstrate ir political will and commitment by resolving few remaining issues and conclude an agreement” on basis of draft Sudan submitted June 14.

Ethiopia anunced last Friday that it would begin filling huge dam’s reservoir in July after last week’s talks with Egypt and Sudan failed to reach an accord governing how dam will be filled and operated.

Egypt formally asked Security Council to intervene in a three-p letter same day.

Egyptian letter asked U.N.’s most powerful body to call Ethiopia back into talks for a “fair and balanced solution,” and to urge it to refrain from unilateral acts. government warned that filling dam without a deal “constitutes a clear and present danger to Egypt,” with repercussions that “threaten international peace and security.”

Filling Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam would potentially bring years-long dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over $4.6 billion mega-project to a critical juncture, with some fearing it could escalate into military conflict. Commentators in Egypt’s pro-government media have often called for action to stop Ethiopia.

Ethiopia says electricity that will be generated by dam is a crucial for bringing millions of its people out of poverty. With start of rainy season in July bringing more water to Blue Nile, Nile’s main tributary, Ethiopia wants to start filling reservoir.

Egypt, which relies on Nile for more than 90% of its water supplies, fears a devastating impact if dam is operated without taking its needs into account. Sudan, which also largely depends on Nile for water, has been caught between competing interests.

parties have been unable to agree on how much water Ethiopia will release downstream from dam if a multi-year drought occurs and on how Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan will resolve any disputes.

Sudan’s Abdalla urged Security Council to “discour all parties from unilateral actions including starting filling of reservoir before reaching an agreement.”

council will hold an open meeting on dam dispute Monday and be briefed by U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo.

In her letter, Abdalla urged all parties involved to “work very hard to mark a historic moment in Nile region” and turn dam into “a trigger for cooperation inste of a cause for conflict and instability.”

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry told AP on Sunday that his country wants Security Council to “undertake its responsibilities” to prevent Ethiopia from starting to fill dam without an agreement. e accused Ethiopian officials of stoking antagonism between countries and said “certainly unilateral actions by Ethiopia in this regard would constitute ... a threat” to international peace and security.

Abdalla said Sudan is “deeply concerned” about Ethiopia’s decision to start filling dam, which is only 15 kilometers (nine miles) downstream from Sudanese Roseires reservoir. With Sudan's reservoir only one-tenth size of Ethiopian dam, Ethiopia’s unilateral action in filling dam will put operation of Roseires “and hence lives of millions of people living downstream at a very high risk,” Abdalla said.

United States earlier this year tried to broker a deal, but Ethiopia did t attend signing meeting in February and accused Trump ministration of siding with Egypt. Last week, U.S. National Security Council tweeted that “257 million people in east Africa are relying on Ethiopia to show strong leership, which means striking a fair deal.”

Egypt's foreign minister warned that filling reservoir without an accord would violate 2015 declaration of principles governing ir talks — and rule out a return to negotiations.

“We are t seeking any coercive action by Security Council,” Shukry said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a news conference Thursday that U.N. believes negotiating process “is still moving forward” and fully supports it.

“We believe that only way out in a situation like this is through dialogue among parties, and we will be at disposal of parties,” he said.