(6 minutes read)
· The United States announced its decision to de-link
suspension of millions of dollars of development aid promised to Ethiopia from that country’s dispute with Egypt over a massive hydroelectric dam project
· The aid aggregating close to US$ 272 million in security and development assistance may take time to fructify
· Experts interpret the stated delay to the conflict in
Ethiopia’s Tigray region, which has attracted world attention.
The United States announced its decision to de-link suspension of millions of dollars of development aid promised to Ethiopia from that country’s dispute with Egypt over a massive hydroelectric dam project. However, there is a catch. The State Department says that the aid would not flow immediately. The aid aggregating close to US$ 272 million in security and development assistance may take time to fructify. Experts interpret the stated delay to the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, which has attracted world attention. Several counties including the US have asked for early settlement of the crisis, which had taken toll of several people, besides triggering a mass scale exodus of the migrants to the neighboring countries including Sudan.
Former US President Donald Trump last year directed the suspension of aid to Ethiopia in a rare example of his direct involvement in an African issue. This has infuriated the Ethiopian administration. Ethiopia had left a U.S.-led attempt to mediate the dispute with Egypt and Sudan after a few rounds of talks. Ethiopia alleged that the attempt to hammer peace and settle a long standing dispute was going against their interest. They even charged that the Trump Administration was biased against them. .
Ethiopia maintains that the US$ $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was nearly completed on the Blue Nile River. The dam is essential for the region and for ensuring energy security and enough water for agriculture and household purposes. However, Egypt says it threatens its water supply. Sudan is also not favorably disposed with the project though for different reasons.
Ethiopia has attracted a fair share of criticism from the U.S. and others including the European Union and United Nations for the situation in its northern Tigray region, where deadly fighting is still going on. Over six million people have been largely cut off from the world since fighting began in November. Several stories of atrocities, poverty and deprivation in the region have been reported, though Ethiopian government has been consistently denying them.
The US has expressed anguish against the developments in the ongoing conflicts. It is maintaining the stand that the Eritrean soldiers should immediately leave Ethiopia. Earlier this week, a State Department spokesperson said that the US was concerned by the widespread humanitarian suffering and reported human rights abuses in the Tigray region. The spokesperson called for an immediate end to fighting and for ensuring unhindered humanitarian access into the affected areas. He has also called for an independent investigation into the human rights violations and abuses and insisted that those responsible for perpetrating violations be held accountable.
