Sudan And Egypt Agree 16-Month Plan To Rehabilitate Jebel Aulia Dam

Khartoum, August 1, 2026 - Sudan and Egypt agreed on a 16-month plan to rehabilitate the Jebel Aulia Dam south of Khartoum, beginning with construction of a temporary bridge to restore traffic across the facility within four months. The bridge was destroyed in November 2023 during shelling by the Rapid Support Forces, while the main dam structure remained largely intact.

Sudanese and Egyptian irrigation officials reviewed field assessments, technical specifications and urgent maintenance needs before broader restoration work begins. The dam, located about 44 km south of Khartoum, was built between 1933 and 1937 and has storage capacity of 3.5 billion cubic meters.

It supports irrigation, local fishing and power generation, making its restoration important for water management and economic recovery around the capital. Sudanese irrigation officials said the facility had deteriorated after RSF forces used it to move heavy armor and operated its mechanisms without technical oversight.

Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam directed Egyptian teams to maintain close coordination with Sudan and expedite required supplies under bilateral Nile water arrangements.