Egypt has not received an official plan from Ethiopia on filling the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as talks have been on hold since Hailemariam Desalegn resigned as Ethiopia’s prime minister, an unnamed source told Al Masry Al Youm. Reports had emerged last week that Addis Ababa sent its plan to Cairo, which included several scenarios that Egypt can choose to adopt during that five-year period. Sources said at the time that Cairo did not sign off on the strategy as its violates the agreement signed with Sudan and Ethiopia about sharing the Nile water, which forbids Addis Ababa from filling the dam’s reservoir before reaching consensus on GERD’s environmental impact.

Desalegn’s resignation has also resulted in the indefinite postponement of Egypt’s plans to construct a USD 120 mn industrial zone in Addis Ababa, Elsewedy Electric CEO and head of the Egyptian-Ethiopian Business Council Ahmed El Sewedy tells Al Mal. The project, which Elsewedy had submitted an offer for, will remain paused until Ethiopia selects a new prime minister. Desalegn resigned two weeks ago amid anti-government protests.