[ad_1]
Washington – (dpa)
Published on: Friday, October 23, 2020 – 22:26 | Last update: Friday 23 October 2020 – 22:26
US President Donald Trump was involved in a dispute between three African countries on Friday over a controversial dam project to generate hydroelectric power, after he mediated to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel.
The hydroelectric dam, which Ethiopia has been building since 2010 on the Blue Nile, has sparked hostility with Egypt, which is concerned about controlling the flow of water.
The US president accused Ethiopia of violating an agreement it was preparing to resolve the conflict, and said it had cut millions of dollars in aid to Addis Ababa since then.
“Egypt cannot be blamed for feeling a bit upset,” Trump said in a phone call with the leaders of Sudan and Israel to celebrate a diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries.
At that moment, he seemed to anticipate the violence that might ensue.
The president said that it is “a very dangerous situation, because Egypt will not be able to live this way.” “They’ll wind up blowing that dam … they’ll blow up the dam,” he said.
Ethiopia wants to build the dam to expand its energy exports, while Egypt relies almost exclusively on the waters of the Nile River for agriculture, industry and local use.
Egypt and Sudan are seeking to reach a legally binding agreement that guarantees adequate water flows and a legal mechanism to resolve disputes before the dam begins operating.
In August, however, Ethiopia celebrated the first phase of filling the dam.
[ad_2]
