Sudanese Legal Scholar Says GERD Benefits Sudan, Affirms Ethiopia’s Sovereign Rights

Addis Ababa, January 22, 2026 (ENA)—A Sudanese international law expert has underscored the benefits Sudan stands to gain from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), while affirming Ethiopia’s sovereign right to develop the project in accordance with international law.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Sudanese legal scholar Hatem Al-Sanhouri described colonial-era agreements governing the Abay River as unjust, outdated, and inconsistent with modern principles of equitable water use.

Al-Sanhouri said the GERD is a landmark development project constructed entirely within Ethiopia’s sovereign territory and grounded in the country’s legitimate right to utilize its natural resources for national development.

 He cited United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1803 (1962), which enshrines the principle of permanent sovereignty over natural resources.

“This resolution affirms that every state has full sovereignty over its natural resources and the right to exploit them for economic development in accordance with national and international law,” he said, describing the principle as a cornerstone of post-colonial economic self-determination.

According to Al-Sanhouri, Sudan is among the primary beneficiaries of the GERD. He explained that the dam will significantly reduce sedimentation and aquatic vegetation that have long impaired the efficiency of turbines at Sudan’s Roseires Dam.

“The reduction of sediment alone will extend the lifespan of downstream infrastructure and substantially reduce maintenance costs,” he noted.

He added that the GERD will help regulate the flow of the Abay River, mitigate flood risks, ensure a more stable year-round water supply, and provide access to affordable electricity—factors he said could support Sudan’s economic growth and development.

Addressing concerns over potential harm, Al-Sanhouri stated that no objective or scientific evidence has demonstrated damage caused by the dam.

“Any claim of harm must be based on measurable, scientific criteria,” he stressed.

He also rejected assertions that the GERD was developed in secrecy, noting that Ethiopia engaged downstream countries throughout the dam’s 14-year construction period and consistently communicated the benefits of coordinated filling and operation.

“International experts confirmed in 2015 that the dam’s design and safety standards are sound and scientifically robust,” he added.

Turning to the 1929 and 1959 water agreements, Al-Sanhouri emphasized that Ethiopia was not a party to either treaty and is therefore not legally bound by their provisions.

 He described the agreements as products of a colonial context that caused significant social and environmental harm, including the flooding of Sudan’s Wadi Halfa region and the destruction of more than 3,000 date palm trees.

He further criticized the water allocation system established by those agreements as fundamentally inequitable, noting that Egypt was allocated 55.5 billion cubic meters of Abay water annually, while Sudan received 18.5 billion cubic meters.

“Such arrangements clearly violate the principle of fair and reasonable utilization,” he said.

Al-Sanhouri called on all Abay Basin countries to prioritize the interests of their peoples through cooperation based on sustainable development and equitable use of shared water resources.

 He highlighted the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) signed in Entebbe as a model grounded in these principles.

He also recalled that Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan signed the Declaration of Principles on the GERD on March 23, 2015, establishing a cooperative framework for dialogue and coordination on the dam.

“The era we live in demands respect for science, international law, and the rights of peoples to benefit from their natural resources,” Al-Sanhouri concluded.