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Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan sign deal to end Nile dispute | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three African leaders have signed an initial deal to end a long-running dispute over the sharing of Nile waters and the building of Africa's biggest hydroelectric dam, in Ethiopia. | |
The leaders of Egypt, Ethiopian and Sudan signed the agreement in Sudan's capital, Khartoum. | |
Egypt has opposed the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, saying it would worsen its water shortages. | Egypt has opposed the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, saying it would worsen its water shortages. |
Ethiopia says the dam will give it a fairer share of Nile waters. | Ethiopia says the dam will give it a fairer share of Nile waters. |
Last year, Ethiopia's parliament ratified a controversial treaty to replace colonial-era agreements that gave Egypt and Sudan the biggest share of the Nile's water. | Last year, Ethiopia's parliament ratified a controversial treaty to replace colonial-era agreements that gave Egypt and Sudan the biggest share of the Nile's water. |
Egypt's then-President Mohamed Morsi said he did not want war but he would not allow Egypt's water supply to be endangered by the dam. | Egypt's then-President Mohamed Morsi said he did not want war but he would not allow Egypt's water supply to be endangered by the dam. |
Mr Morsi's successor, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi signed the deal with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Halemariam Desalegn and Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir. | |
'Veto power' | 'Veto power' |
The three leaders welcomed the agreement in speeches in Khartoum's Republican Palace, and watched a short film about the Grand Renaissance Dam that highlighted how it could benefit the region, the Associated Press news agency reports. | |
Ethiopia wants to replace a 1929 treaty written by Britain that awarded Egypt veto power over any project involving the Nile by upstream countries. | Ethiopia wants to replace a 1929 treaty written by Britain that awarded Egypt veto power over any project involving the Nile by upstream countries. |
Ethiopia says the $4.7bn (£3.1bn) dam will eventually provide 6,000 megawatts of power. | Ethiopia says the $4.7bn (£3.1bn) dam will eventually provide 6,000 megawatts of power. |
Egypt was apparently caught by surprise when Ethiopia started diverting the Blue Nile - a tributary of the Nile - last year. | Egypt was apparently caught by surprise when Ethiopia started diverting the Blue Nile - a tributary of the Nile - last year. |
Ethiopia says the river will be slightly diverted but will then be able to follow its natural course. | Ethiopia says the river will be slightly diverted but will then be able to follow its natural course. |
Egyptian politicians were inadvertently heard on live TV last year, proposing military action over the dam. | Egyptian politicians were inadvertently heard on live TV last year, proposing military action over the dam. |
Ethiopia has received strong backing from five other Nile-basin countries - Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi. | Ethiopia has received strong backing from five other Nile-basin countries - Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi. |