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Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that the country has “without intention to harm“neighbor of Egypt and Sudan.
Comments that come after months of negotiations over the Renaissance dam, located upstream from the two countries, have produced no deal.
Egypt warned that the dam project could have devastating effects on its economy. As the flow of the Nile River would be reduced to fill the reservoir of the dam, Egypt would lose its main source of scarce fresh water resources.
A situation Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he is keen to avoid.
“I want to ensure that we are steadfast in our commitment to address the concerns of downstream countries and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome in the context of the ongoing process led by the African Union.“Declared Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in a recorded speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
Regional tensions and local crisis
Abiy Ahmed, whose country is embroiled in difficult talks in the region, also faces a great challenge at home.
Deadly unrest rocked Ethiopia as long-marginalized groups, seeking more voice in the country’s politics, have taken their anger to the streets in recent months.
The long-awaited first free elections, two years after Abiy Ahmed took office as Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, have been postponed until 2021.
Members of the opposition, such as the leader of the Oromo Federalist Congress, Jawar Mohammed, have stated that the government was using fears of the COVID 19 pandemic as a tool to stay in power.
