Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, have formally welcomed an offer from United States President Donald Trump to mediate the protracted dispute concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The dispute, which centres on the equitable sharing of the Nile River waters, has remained a point of regional friction since Ethiopia commenced the ambitious project fourteen years ago.
Taking to the social media platform X on Saturday, President al-Sisi expressed his profound appreciation for President Trump’s renewed interest in the matter. Describing the Nile as “the lifeline of the Egyptian people,” the President reaffirmed Egypt’s dedication to constructive engagement with fellow Nile Basin nations.
Mr al-Sisi emphasised that any cooperation must be “based on the principles of international law,” ensuring that shared interests are achieved “without causing harm to any party.” In a formal letter addressed to the American President, al-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s grave concerns regarding water security and expressed an aspiration for close bilateral cooperation in the forthcoming phase of negotiations.
In a parallel statement, Sudan’s leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, also utilised X to signal Khartoum’s endorsement of the American initiative. Mr al-Burhan noted that Sudan supports the mediation offer as a vehicle to “achieve sustainable and satisfactory solutions.” He further remarked that a successful resolution would be paramount in preserving the rights of all involved parties while bolstering “regional security and stability.”
The American offer to restart mediation follows President Trump’s Friday announcement that the United States remains prepared to facilitate a breakthrough between the downstream nations and Ethiopia.
The Blue Nile, a primary tributary of the 6,650-kilometre river shared by eleven nations, saw the official inauguration of the GERD on 9 September. The project’s completion followed over a decade of construction and persistent objections from Egypt and Sudan regarding the technicalities of its filling and operation.
For years, Cairo and Khartoum have sought a legally binding tripartite agreement. Their primary concern remains the potential impact on their water quotas during periods of drought, an issue they view as an existential threat.
As the international community watches, the reintroduction of Washington as a central mediator brings a renewed, albeit cautious, sense of momentum to one of Africa’s most complex environmental and diplomatic challenges.
