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ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia denounced “belligerent threats” over the massive near-completion dam on the Blue Nile River on Saturday, a day after US President Donald Trump said Egypt will “blow up” the a project that he has described as an existential threat.
Ethiopia’s foreign minister summoned the US ambassador for clarification, saying that “incitement to war between Ethiopia and Egypt by a sitting US president does not reflect the long-standing strategic partnership and alliance. between Ethiopia and the United States is not acceptable under international law governing interstate relations, ”a statement said.
Without naming Trump or the United States, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office issued a separate critical statement amid a protest in Ethiopia over Trump’s latest threat over the dam. The $ 4.6 billion Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a source of national pride, aiming to lift millions of people out of poverty.
Trump made the comment by announcing that Sudan would begin normalizing ties with Israel. Downstream from Sudan is part of talks with Ethiopia and Egypt over the disputed dam. “They (Egypt) will end up blowing up the dam,” Trump said. “And I said it and I say it loud and clear… they will blow up that dam. And they have to do something. “
The US president earlier this year told the State Department to suspend millions of dollars in aid to Ethiopia due to the dam dispute, infuriating Ethiopians who had accused the United States of being biased during their previous efforts to negotiate an agreement on the project between Ethiopia and Egypt. and Sudan. Ethiopia walked away from those talks.
“They will never see that money unless they adhere to that agreement,” Trump said Friday.
“Occasional statements of belligerent threats that Ethiopia succumb to unfair terms still abound,” said the statement from the Ethiopian prime minister’s office. “These threats and insults to Ethiopian sovereignty are misguided, unproductive and clear violations of international law.”
He added: “Ethiopia will not give in to attacks of any kind.”
There was no comment from the Egyptian government on Trump’s comments, but the pro-government media covered them extensively. Egypt has repeatedly said that it wants to resolve the dispute through diplomatic means, but has said it would use “all available means” to defend the interests of its people.
Ethiopia held the first filling of the dam in August, citing heavy rains, much to Egypt’s dismay. Ethiopia later banned flights over the dam amid concerns about possible military action by Egypt.
Now, with Trump’s new comments, some Ethiopians are urging Ethiopian Americans to help remove him from office in next month’s election.
Concerned about the prospect of new frictions between two of the most powerful and populous countries in Africa, the representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, said in a statement that “now is the time to act and not to increase tensions” He added that an agreement on the dam is within reach.
The statement from Abiy’s office said the talks with Egypt and Sudan have shown significant progress since the African Union stepped in to monitor them. Trump’s statement could undermine that process, said Abel Abate Demissie, an associate member of Chatham House.
Ethiopia says the colossal dam could help it become a major energy exporter. Egypt depends on the Nile to supply its farmers and a booming population of 100 million with fresh water.
Negotiators have said key questions remain about how much water Ethiopia will release downstream if a multi-year drought occurs and how countries will resolve any future disputes. Ethiopia rejects binding arbitration in the final stage.
A military attack on the dam would be disastrous, warned a water expert. The dam already has more than 4.9 billion cubic meters of water in its reservoir, ”Abebe Yirga told The Associated Press. “It will affect thousands of people along the way if this huge amount of water gushes out of the dam.”
The Blue Nile joins the White Nile in Sudan to become the Nile, and about 85% of the river’s flow originates from Ethiopia. Authorities expect the dam, now more than three-quarters complete, to reach its maximum power-generating capacity in 2023.
