Ethiopia rebukes US, Egypt on GERD talks: Ethiopia’s foreign minister has criticized the US for taking a “totally unacceptable” position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) but pledged to continue with the ongoing negotiations, the BBC reports. Speaking during a joint press conference with the country’s irrigation minister yesterday, minister Gedu Andargachew said that Washington had taken an “undiplomatic” stance during the recent talks and urged it to play a “constructive role.”

The minister was referring to a statement put out by the US Treasury last weekend that claimed that an agreement had been reached and called on Ethiopia to sign “at the earliest possible time.” "The recent statement by the US we believe is undiplomatic and does not reflect a great nation like this," Andargachew said yesterday. "We want Americans to play a constructive role. Any other role is unacceptable."

Tensions have risen over Ethiopia’s megaproject in recent days after Ethiopia skipped talks in Washington last weekend, saying that it needed more time to consider the agreement. Egypt, which initialled the accord in Ethiopia’s absence, expressed “deep dissatisfaction and rejection” with Addis Ababa’s position on the talks after the meeting, and warned that it would use “all available means” to defend its interests if the talks fell through. Andargachew rejected the statement yesterday, calling it “not beneficial for everyone, except ruining relations.”

US reiterates commitment for negotiated solution: Washington will continue with its “tireless efforts” to find a solution to the dispute, Trump told President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in a phone call yesterday, Ittihadiya said. The US president also expressed his appreciation for the “constructive political goodwill” Egypt had demonstrated by signing on to the draft agreement over the dam’s filing and operating schedule. The Foreign Ministry also said yesterday that minister Sameh Shoukry had spoken with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, but provided little detail on their discussion.