Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia’s ministers outline roadmap for next round of GERD talks: The foreign and irrigation ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan agreed yesterday on a roadmap for the ongoing negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the points that must be addressed to reach a mutual agreement, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The ministers met in Washington for talks mediated by the US and World Bank and are next scheduled to meet in Sudan on 21 December.

The US is nudging things along: The three countries “agreed that the strategic direction of the next two technical meetings should be the development of technical rules and guidelines for the filling and operation of the [dam], the definition of drought conditions, and drought mitigation measures to be taken,” according to a US Treasury statement. The three countries have committed to reaching an agreement by 15 January 2020, which will mark the end of the fourth round of talks, scheduled to begin in Washington on 13 January.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday to discuss the GERD talks ahead of the ministers’ meeting, that is otherwise scant on details.