The recent revelation by Professor of Remote Sensing and Earth Systems Sciences at Chapman University in the United States, Hesham al-Askary, regarding the detection of a worrying anomaly at the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, raises serious questions about the potential risks to Sudan.
According to satellite observations, a vertical deformation has been observed on both sides of the dam, jeopardizing its stability and raising fears of an imminent collapse.
This deformation could indeed cause the dam to rupture, with disastrous consequences for Sudan. Professor al-Askary stressed that if the dam were to fail, the quantities of water released would be colossal, and Sudanese dams would not be able to withstand it.
Highlighting the growing tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa following the failure of negotiations on the Nile waters in connection with the GERD project, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati made it clear that no tolerance, no concessions will be made regarding the Nile water, a crucial issue for Egyptian national security.
He reiterated that every drop of Nile water is precious and should not be wasted, as the current resources are not sufficient for Egypt.
In a letter to the President of the UN Security Council in September, Abdel-Aati expressed Egypt’s categorical rejection of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s statements regarding the fifth phase of filling the Renaissance Dam.
Egypt thus denounces Ethiopia’s unilateral policies that flout international law and violate the principles of the Declaration of Principles, as well as the presidential statement of the Security Council of September 15, 2021.
He stressed that by trying to legitimize its unilateral policies by hiding behind unfounded claims based on the right of peoples to development, Ethiopia threatens the regional balance and jeopardizes the security and stability of the region.
This situation raises major concerns about the future of the negotiations on the Nile waters and the involvement of the international community in resolving this crisis with key issues for the stability of the entire region.