Maat: We highlight the role of the Egyptian civil society in settling African disputes

Okeil: The "Nile for Peace" initiative is a guide to any dispute over waterways in Africa

Hagar Monsif: We encourage all actors and stakeholders to join hands to resolve the GERD crisis

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights Association organized an interactive event with the leaders of Egyptian civil society organizations to introduce them to the "Nile for Peace" initiative that has been launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, last April.

This interactive event comes within the framework of Maat’s efforts to highlight the role of Egyptian civil society organizations in settling regional and international disputes, topped by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.

Ayman Okeil, president of Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, stated that “The Nile for Peace” initiative is one of the efforts that seeks to bring peace to the African continent and settle all disputes, not only on the Nile River water, but also on all African waterways.

"Okeil" also affirmed that the initiative aims to help each of the three countries to achieve their goals without affecting or jeopardizing the right of the other countries. Ethiopia has the full right to achieve the long-awaited development, and both Egypt and the international community must help it in this endeavor, but also Egypt and Sudan have historical and legal rights to the Nile River waters. Therefore, we call on Ethiopia to delay the second filling of the GERD until a legally-binding agreement that preserves the rights of the three countries is reached.

For her part, Hagar Monsif, director of the African Affairs and Sustainable Development Unit at Maat, said that the initiative encourages all parties concerned with the crisis to join efforts and bring the three countries back to the negating table, in an effort to reach a middle ground. Moreover, she stressed the vital role played by various civil society organizations and stakeholders in the issue.

"Monsif" added that the outstanding disputes on the GERD crisis should be settled through peaceful consultation and negotiation, to avoid further escalation in the region. Therefore, the governments of the three countries must assume their historical responsibility, show respect to the rights of other countries, and help each other to achieve development within the framework of a legally-binding agreement and an atmosphere of cooperation.

It is worth noting that Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights is a founding member of the African initiative "The Nile for Peace", which was launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, from 6 to 11 April 2021, in the presence of a number of civil society organizations from 9 African countries, along with independent experts from several African countries.