The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Crisis and position of Sudan

This study aims to realize the official position of Sudan regarding the crisis of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). It is a complex and controversial issue, that has produced many disagreements and conflicting views between Ethiopia and Egypt, which created a political crisis between the two countries. The study is based on a primary hypothesis, that the position of Sudan - in some of its aspects- is unclear and is characterized as hazy and fluctuated. Additionally, other studies did not address it in detail or illustrate it thoroughly. The study concluded that Sudan’s position towards the GERD project during the era of Bashir’s government was not affected by objective criteria, rather than swinging under the pressure of external alliances with Ethiopia at sometimes, and with Egypt at other times. Until the Sudanese government eventually adopted a compromising position that seeks not to politically lose any partner. The Sudanese position has transformed afterward, due to the change brought by the Dec. 2018 revolution over the Inqath (Rescue) Regime in Sudan. The transitional government of Sudan was keen to adopt a position, that takes into consideration Sudan’s interest and water security as a top priority, despite the challenges facing its decision-making mechanism. The latter is a tug-of-war among the ruling parties of the political equation in Sudan, which would affect Sudan’s position on the GERD file and make it indecisive and non-sustainable.