Egypt and Sudan Establish Joint Committee to Assess GERD Damages

Egypt and Sudan have announced the establishment of a joint committee to document and assess the material, social, and environmental damages caused by the unilateral operation of Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the two downstream countries. Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, stated that the committee will investigate direct and indirect damages to pursue compensation claims from Ethiopia. Following a 2+2 meeting of foreign and water ministers in Cairo, the two countries reiterated their concern that the dam operates without a legally binding framework. They urged Ethiopia to abandon its unilateral approach and adhere to international legal principles. This development signals a continued diplomatic impasse regarding the dam's management.