Page 89 - DINQ MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 EDITION
P. 89
AFRICAN NEWS UPDATES
Ethiopia denounces Donald Trump remark that
Egypt could 'blow up' Nile dam It added: "As a developing nation, Ethiopia may be
confronted with poverty but are rich with history,
(NBC NEWS ) Ethiopia on Saturday denounced patriotic citizens whose commitment to defend their
"belligerent threats" over the huge hydropower country's sovereignty is unparalleled and an ambi-
dam it has nearly completed on the Blue Nile tion and a well-articulated plan for prosperity."
river, less than 24 hours after President Donald Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Des-
Trump said Egypt could "blow up" the project. salegn tweeted on Saturday: "The man doesn't have
Trump made the comment while announcing a clue on what he is talking about," calling Trump's
that Sudan, which sits downstream from the remarks "reckless" and "irresponsible."
dam, would start to normalize ties with Israel on Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andar-
Friday. gachew later summoned U.S. Ambassador to Addis
Ababa Mike Raynor to seek clarifications on the
comments.
"The incitement of war between Ethiopia and Egypt
from a sitting U.S. president neither reflects the
longstanding partnership and strategic alliance be-
tween Ethiopia and the United States nor is accepta-
ble in international law governing interstate rela-
tions," Gedu's ministry said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Trump told the State Department to
suspend millions of dollars in aid to Ethiopia be-
"They will end up blowing up the dam," Trump cause of the dispute over the dam. A move that an-
said, referring to Egypt. "And I said it and I say gered Ethiopians.
it loud and clear, they'll blow up that dam. And
they have to do something." "They will never see that money unless they adhere
to that agreement," Trump said Friday.
The $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Ethiopia says the colossal dam project could help it
Dam is a source of national pride become a major power exporter and develop its
in Ethiopia, aimed at pulling millions of people economy. Egypt depends on the Nile to supply its
out of poverty, but it has entangled neighboring farmers and population of 100 million with fresh
east African nations Egypt and Sudan, which water while Sudan contends with frequent droughts.
also rely on the river.
The country celebrated the first filling of the dam in
Without naming Trump or the United States, August, to the dismay of Egypt.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office There was no comment from the Egyptian govern-
issued a blunt statement on Saturday, which said ment on Trump's latest remarks.
the east African nation would "not cave in to
aggressions of any kind." Egypt has repeatedly said it wants to settle the dam
dispute through diplomatic channels, but has also
"These threats and affronts to Ethiopian sover- said it would use "all available means" to defend the
eignty are misguided, unproductive, and clear interests of its people.
violations of international law," the statement
said. Continued on page 94
DINQ MEGAZINE November 2020 STAY SAFE 89
