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JOHANNESBURG: The State Department says that, under the guidance of President Donald Trump, the United States is suspending some aid to Ethiopia due to “lack of progress” in the country’s talks with Egypt and Sudan on a huge and disputed project to dam that is completing on the Nile. River.
A State Department spokesperson told The Associated Press that the decision to “temporarily pause” some aid to a key regional security ally “reflects our concern over Ethiopia’s unilateral decision to begin filling the dam before it was established. an agreement and all necessary security measures. “
It is not clear how many millions of dollars in aid are being affected or for how long. The decision was made by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “based on the president’s guidance,” the spokesman said.
Ethiopia said this week it was asking the United States for clarification after a media report said Pompeo had approved cutting up to $ 130 million in aid due to the dam dispute. Last week’s Foreign Policy report sparked an uproar among some in Ethiopia, who see the dam as a source of national pride.
Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam has sparked serious tensions with Egypt, calling it an existential threat and fearing it will reduce the country’s share of the Nile waters. Ethiopia says the $ 4.6 billion dam will be a driver of development. that will lift millions of people out of poverty. Sudan, in the middle, is concerned about the effects on its own dams, although it could benefit from access to cheap electricity.
Years of talks between the countries have failed to reach an agreement. Key outstanding issues include how to manage water discharges from the dam during multi-year droughts and how to resolve future disputes.
The State Department spokesman says aid for Ethiopia’s response to COVID-19 and HIV and “some humanitarian assistance to help those affected by conflict, drought, displacement and other humanitarian challenges will continue.”
