(2 minutes read)
· Ethiopia blamed the United States of being ‘undiplomatic’ in
its role facilitating talks between the three countries on the Nile
River over a giant dam and said that the talks have not progressed in
the desired direction. It may be noted that that there was a report
· In the meantime, Ethiopia apprehends that the US is more
tilted towards Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Ethiopia blamed the United States of being ‘undiplomatic’ in its role
facilitating talks between the three countries on the Nile River over
a giant dam and said that the talks have not progressed in the desired
direction. It may be noted that that there was a report that U.S.
president Donald Trump called his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi pledging his support.
The US has been enabling talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan over
the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as a mediator and several rounds
of talks did take place and an amicable solution is still evading.
According to Ethiopia, the last few rounds of talks ended inconclusive
since Egypt had brought on the table newer issues, deliberately trying
to create impasse. The Nile River dam project-named Grand Renaissance
Dam- which entail a cost of over US$ 4 billion is the pet project of
Ethiopia. But Egypt apprehends that the construction of dam would
affect the availability of water for its household and agricultural
use.
There are still thorny issues to be sorted out between Egypt and
Ethiopia. In the meantime, Ethiopia apprehends that the US is more
tilted towards Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Last week, the
US Treasury Department, the nodal point for arbitrating between the
two countries claimed an agreement had been reached and urged Ethiopia
to sign “at the earliest possible time”. Egypt maintained that it had
signed the “fair and balanced” deal. However, Ethiopia denied any deal
had been agreed and wanted the US to play a constructive role and
warned the US not to rush the process or try to influence the outcome.
