Ethiopia calls Egypt’s comments on GERD talks “regrettable,” reaffirms committing to “good faith” discussions: The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said yesterday it remains committed to engaging in “good faith” negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and denounced Egypt’s accusations earlier this week that Addis Ababa showed a “lack in political will to reach a fair agreement.” Ethiopia denied it is seeking sole discretion in Nile water allocation and said it will continue to abide by the Declaration of Principles signed by all three parties in March 2015 to guide continued talks. The statement blames tensions in the talks on “Egypt’s obstinacy to maintain a colonial based water allocation agreement.”

Talks are expected to continue trudging along today, despite the rising tensions (and threats of war): Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have all confirmed that Grand Ethipian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations will proceed as scheduled with the next meeting slated for today, according to an Irrigation Ministry spokesperson statement. Ethiopia’s deputy army chief raised the spectre of war on Saturday, saying “Egyptians know too well how we conduct war whenever it comes.” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said last October that his country could “mobilize mns” to fight if Egypt took military action against the dam.