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African leaders gather for AU summit focused on security 

 

Summit

Addis Ababa, Feb. 9, 2020 (dpa/NAN) African leaders are gathering in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday for the 33rd African Union (AU) summit focusing on security which is expected to discuss the Libyan crisis.

The summit will see South Africa taking over the group’s presidency from Egypt.

The two-day meeting is held under the theme “Silencing the Guns,” reflecting goals of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

The plan, which kicked off in 2013, is aimed at transforming African states  and establishing security and peace across the continent.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to attend the summit, which is expected to discuss the Libyan crisis.

The UN has been trying to turn a fragile ceasefire between the warring Libyan parties into a lasting truce.

On Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and stressed the importance of African states’ involvement in shaping a solution for the conflict in Libya.

Egypt supports military strongman General Khalifa Haftar, while the UN backs the Tripoli-based government of Fayez Serraj.

The summit also comes amid a dispute between Egypt and Sudan on the one side and Ethiopia on the other over a dam built by the latter on the Blue Nile, which Cairo fears will reduce its supply of water.

After several meetings hosted by Washington, the three states said a final agreement would be signed in late February. (dpa/NAN)

YEE

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

General news

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to sign agreement on dam by end of February

 

Dam

Cairo, Feb. 1, 2020 (dpa/NAN) Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan will sign a final agreement by the end of February on a disputed dam built by Ethiopia, the three nations said in a joint statement on Friday.

For years, a diplomatic crisis has raged between the countries because of Ethiopia’s dam on the Blue Nile, which Cairo fears will reduce its supply of water.

The U.S.  Treasury Department sponsored a meeting of ministers from the three countries in Washington lasting several days.

A few points are still outstanding. The final agreement will be signed in late February, it said.

The points agreed on Friday also provide mechanisms for how to fill the dam during periods of drought, and how to operate the power plant in the long term during droughts, a press release said.

They also discussed and agreed to finalize a mechanism for the annual and long-term operation of the dam, a coordination mechanism, and provisions for dispute resolution and information sharing.

The ministers also agreed to address dam safety and pending studies on the environmental and social impacts of the GERD.

Ethiopia began building the 4.8-billion-dollar hydroelectric dam in 2010, as part of a plan expand its power exports.

Egypt relies almost exclusively on the Nile for farming, industry and domestic water use and fears that the dam will reduce its water supply.

Ethiopia says Egypt’s worries are baseless.

Sudan now sees some advantages for itself in the dam.

Around two thirds of the construction is complete. (dpa/NAN)

YEE

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim