- UN says GERD dispute beyond the scope of Security Council
- Egypt last week asked the UN Security Council to intervene in the dispute
- Egypt and Sudan are in dispute with Ethiopia over GERD
The United Nations Security Country (UNSC) has said the body would not intervene in the ongoing crisis between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The UNSC said the dispute is beyond its scope of expertise. Last week, Egypt asked the United Nations Security Council to intervene in the ongoing dispute between the three Nile beneficiary countries.
The French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière, stated that though the Council will discuss the matter, ”This issue is between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, and these three countries should discuss and reach logistical arrangements regarding cooperation and participation in the water quotas”, de Rivière said. “Honestly, I do not think the Security Council has the logistical expertise to decide how much water should go to Egypt or Sudan… This issue is beyond the scope and capacity of the Security Council”, he added.
De Rivière also suggested that the UNSC can invite the three countries to express their concerns, but he encouraged the parties to go back to the negotiation table. “I do not think there is anything more the Security Council can do”, he said.