S. Africa to mediate over Ethiopia, Egypt Nile dam dispute

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has been beckoned to be the mediator between Ethiopia and Egypt, following their ongoing dispute over a massive dam being built on the Blue Nile River.

According to DailyMail, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday asked Ramaphosa to intervene in a long-running dispute that has left their ties sour since the east African country launched the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam in 2011.

The dam is set to become the largest hydropower plant in Africa, but Egypt's concern is the threat it poses to their dependence on the river for 90 percent of its water supply.

Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan -- where the Blue Nile converges with the White Nile before flowing north -- started discussions under US mediation in November that are meant to yield an agreement next week.

But major sticking points remained in the latest round of talks on Thursday and the parties have yet to clinch a deal, DailyMail reveals.

Abiy, who visited South Africa this weekend, called on Ramaphosa to intervene in the negotiations as the next chairperson of the African Union (AU), which he will take over from Egypt this month.

"As he (Ramaphosa) is a good friend for both Ethiopia and Egypt and also as incoming AU chair, he can make a discussion between both parties to solve the issue peacefully," Abiy told reporters at a news conference in South Africa's political capital Pretoria.

Ramaphosa said South Africa was open to playing a role in facilitating "whatever agreement can be crafted".

"What is pleasing, as far as I'm concerned, is that both countries are willing to discuss this matter and find solutions," he said.

The president said he had already brought up the issue with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who was "willing to have discussions with Ethiopia".

Egypt's irrigation ministry did not wish to comment on whether they would accept South Africa as a mediator.