Highlights:
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed to boost their trilateral relations and enhance their cooperation in matters political, economic and security.
The agreement was reached in the sidelines of a regional economic forum in Sharam el-Sheikh- Egypt by Presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Omar al-Bashir of Egypt and Sudan respectively and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Summary:
A regional economic forum Africa 2016 in Sharam el-Sheikh- Egypt was the field for a sideline meeting between Presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Omar al-Bashir of Egypt and Sudan respectively and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn that sought to strengthen trilateral relations between the 3 countries.
The countries expect to reinforce political, economic and security cooperation in a move that has been see as strengthening their common areas for mutual benefit. They tasked their foreign ministers to come up with an institutional framework to implement the cooperation.
The three leaders agreed to create a common fund that will support development projects in all the countries. Additionally, they agreed to form joint political, economic and socio-cultural committees that will oversee the new relationship which will be doubled with parliamentary meetings and exchange-visits for their lawmakers.
The three countries agreed on joint intelligence sharing that will help curb terrorism which affect all three states, joint military and security personnel training that will help synchronize their military in fighting common threats in either country. Egypt has been battling ISIS, with Ethiopia faces the threat of al shabaab and Sudan has had several active cells of al shabaab as well as the rebels in the south.
This is a welcome cooperation as there has been high tension between Ethiopia and Egypt since Ethiopia started the construction of the Renaissance Dam which Egypt claimed could hold the whole volume of the Blue Nile thus threating the its water supply. Despite Ethiopia saying the dam would only be used to generate an additional 6000MW of electricity to cover her needs.
The Trilateral agreement asserts that Ethiopia is committed to the Declaration of Principles which provides that the construction of the Renaissance Dam should not harm the interests of the downstream countries.
