Abiy Ahmed was sworn in as Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister yesterday in country’s parliament Addis Ababa, Africa News reports. The 42-year-old was elected by the country’s ruling coalition last month, replacing Hailemariam Desalegn, who resigned suddenly in February over anti-government violence, particularly in Ethiopia’s restive Oromia region. Desalegn’s resignation had sparked concerns here in Egypt that Ethiopia’s stance on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) would shift once again when a new premier is sworn in.

Ahmed’s swearing-in come just in time for the kickoff of talks on GERD on Wednesday and Thursday, with meetings scheduled in Khartoum between the ministers of foreign affairs and irrigation, as well intelligence chiefs from Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. The three countries had reached a gridlock on the dam last year, but agreed in January to continue looking for a solution.