Egypt, Sudan welcome Trump’s proposal to mediate Nile dam dispute

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Sudan’s Chairman of the Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Saturday welcomed US President’s offer to mediate a dispute over the sharing of the Nile River waters regarding the contested Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Anadolu Agency reported.

In a statement through US social media company X, Sisi expressed appreciation for Trump’s interest in the Nile issue, describing it as “the lifeline of the Egyptian people.”

Separately, Burhan said in a post on X that Sudan welcomes and supports Trump’s initiative and mediation offer, noting that it aims to “achieve sustainable and satisfactory solutions that preserve the rights of all parties and contribute to regional security and stability.”

Trump said Friday that the US was ready to restart mediation efforts between Egypt and Ethiopia over the long-running dispute.

The Nile River, which runs for 6,650 kilometers (4,132 miles), is shared by 11 countries: Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.

The Ethiopian government inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile on Sept. 9, after 14 years of construction, a project that has long been disputed by downstream nations Egypt and Sudan over its filling and operation.

Egypt and Sudan have long called on Ethiopia to reach a legally binding tripartite agreement on the filling and operation of the dam.