By Mohammed Amin
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Sudan said Monday that it will not take part in direct talks with Egypt and Ethiopia on the multibillion-dollar Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Sudan wants negotiations to be held with African Union mediation, the country’s Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry said in a statement.
Khartoum submitted a request for a trilateral meeting with AU experts and observers Monday but is still awaiting a response, the ministry said.
Instead, Sudan received an invitation for a “direct tripartite meeting,” it added.
“Based on the outcomes of the ministerial meeting between the three countries held on Sunday, Sudan has submitted a request to hold a meeting with the AU experts and monitors,” read the statement.
“Instead of a reply to this request, Sudan received an invitation for a direct tripartite meeting, so it has expressed its reservations over participating in this meeting.”
The Sudanese ministry stressed that all future talks must proceed with AU mediation.
