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US aid threat heats up GERD dispute

EHTIOPIA THE US has reportedly considered cancelling While Ethiopia insists the project would not
up to $130mn in aid to Ethiopia because of the harm downstream states, and that the project is
row over construction of the Grand Ethiopian vital for the country’s economic development,
Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt is worried about declining water flows and
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo approved their effect on irrigation and agriculture.
plans to withhold assistance money earmarked Egypt has so far been known to favour US
for Ethiopia’s military and anti-human traffick- mediation, and has also taken the matter to the
ing programmes, Foreign Policy magazine said. UN Security Council.
Although the US State Department has Ethiopia favours a local solution between
refused to confirm the report, the news angered the countries, and has been taking part in Afri-
Ethiopia, which views that the action could be can Union-brokered talks during the last two
regarded as a response to the failure of US medi- months. However, there has been no agreement,
ation in the dispute between itself, Egypt and especially on how any future agreement would
Sudan. be legally enforced.
The Ethiopian government said on August 31 In last August, Ethiopia insisted that it was
that it had asked the US government to clarify still keen to reach an agreement with Sudan and
the report. Egypt.
“We have asked for clarification on reports For example, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy
of the United States’ decision not to give the Ahmed visited Khartoum last week on August 25
$130mn it assigned to Ethiopia,” Fitsum Arega, in the latest effort to reach agreement.
Ethiopia’s ambassador to the US, said on Twitter “The two sides emphasised they would make
on August 31. every possible effort to reach a successful conclu-
“We have heard that the issue is related to the sion to the current tripartite negotiations,” said
ongoing negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian a joint statement issued by Ethiopia and Sudan.
Renaissance Dam.” However, despite positive words, Egypt has
US-hosted talks in Washington on the $5bn, previously accused Ethiopia of filling the dam
6,000-MW project have previously failed to during mid-August without agreement. Addis
reach any agreement between the countries. Ababa denies this, saying that this was merely
Ethiopia wants to forge ahead with building seasonal rainfall that had raised water levels in
the dam, while Egypt and Sudan want an agree- the River Nile.™
ment covering water-access access rights.

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 35 03•September•2020