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“… America can have difficult conversations with friends.”
borkena
August 28, 2020
The US State Department approved a plan to cut US foreign aid assistance to Ethiopia, according to a Foreign Policy report.
An estimated $ 130 million cut is believed to affect anti-terrorism, security, education and military training and anti-human trafficking programs, among other programs.
Emergency humanitarian aid, including food assistance and health programs, will not be affected by the cut, the source added.
The US action builds on the move to “address” the disagreement between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
State Department officials, according to the Foreign Policy report, briefed congressional staff on the decision. And they believe that the relationship between the United States and Ethiopia would not be affected because “the United States can have difficult conversations with friends.”
However, the Foreign Policy report indicated that the decision has caused “friction” within the Trump administration.
In February 2019, thousands of Ethiopians took to the streets in Washington DC in protest against President Donald’s pressure on their country during the Washington negotiations between the three riparian countries (Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt).
The United States claimed to be an “observer” and facilitator in the negotiation, but later issued a statement warning Ethiopia not to fill the dam before reaching an agreement with the lower riparian countries, a statement that further angered Ethiopians. Ethiopia rejected the statement at the time. Most Ethiopians understand that the United States wants Egypt at Ethiopia’s expense.
Ethiopia completed the first GERD filling phase during the first two weeks of July this year, taking advantage of the heavy rains that the country received.
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