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By Reuters 
12h ago
By Dawit Endeshaw
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia summoned the US ambassador on Saturday for what it called an “incitement to war” between Ethiopia and Egypt from President Donald Trump over their dispute over the filling and operation of a huge hydroelectric dam.
Trump called for an agreement between the countries on Friday, but added that it was a dangerous situation and that Cairo could end up “blowing up that dam.”
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew summoned the US Ambassador to Addis Ababa, Mike Raynor, to seek clarification on the comments.
“The incitement to war between Ethiopia and Egypt by a sitting US president does not reflect the long-standing partnership and strategic alliance between Ethiopia and the United States, nor is it acceptable under international law governing interstate relations,” the ministry said. from Gedu in a statement.
Trump made the comments during a call with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, following the announcement by Sudan and Israel to normalize ties.
Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been embroiled in a bitter dispute over the filling and operation of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which remains unresolved, although the reservoir behind the dam began to fill in July.
Trump said on Friday that he had negotiated a deal to resolve the issue, but that Ethiopia had broken the deal, forcing him to cut funding, adding: “They will never see that money unless they adhere to the deal … I don’t know. You can blame Egypt for being a bit upset. “
He said he had also urged Egypt to resolve the dispute.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office said earlier on Saturday: “Occasional statements of belligerent threats that Ethiopia succumb to unfair terms still abound.”
The first phase of filling the dam was completed in August, he said.
Egypt says it depends on the Nile for more than 90% of its scarce freshwater supplies and fears the dam could have a devastating effect on its economy.
Abiy’s office said significant progress had been made in resolving the dispute since the African Union took over the negotiations.
“Now is the time to act and not to increase tensions,” said European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell before the Ethiopian ministry issued its statement.
REUTERS
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