[ad_1]
On Saturday, Ethiopia accused US President Donald Trump of “inciting a war” against it, following his remarks about the Renaissance dam that Addis Ababa is building on the Nile River, and his hint that Egypt might destroy it.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Guido Andaragacho summoned the US ambassador to Addis Ababa, Michael Raynor, and asked him to clarify the recent statements by the US president about the dam, which generates great tension between Ethiopia and its neighbors Egypt and Sudan.
“The incitement of an American president to carry out his duties in the war between Ethiopia and Egypt does not reflect the long-term partnership and strategic alliance between Ethiopia and the United States, and is not acceptable in light of the international laws that sponsor the relations with the United States, “according to a statement issued by the Ethiopian foreign minister after his meeting with the US ambassador.
Ethiopia’s position came in response to statements made by the president of the United States about the Renaissance dam that Addis Ababa is building on the Nile.
On Friday, Trump told reporters, on the sidelines of a ceremony held as Israel and Sudan reached an agreement to normalize relations between them, “It is a very dangerous situation because Egypt will not be able to live this way.”
“They will end up blowing up the dam. I said it and I say it loud and clear: they are going to blow up this dam. They have to do something.”
On Saturday, Prime Minister Abyei Ahmed’s office defended Ethiopia’s Renaissance Great Dam, which is supposed to become Africa’s largest hydroelectric power station, noting that the country is engaged in negotiations mediated by the African Union and is doing ” remarkable progress “.
The statement continued: “However, the statements continue to threaten war to subject Ethiopia to many unjust conditions. These threats and insults to Ethiopian sovereignty are clear violations of international law.”
“Ethiopia will not be subjected to aggression of any kind,” the statement added.
A separate version of the statement was published in Amharic, in a higher tone.
“There are two facts confirmed by the world. The first is that no one lived in peace after provoking Ethiopia. The second is that if the Ethiopians stood together for one purpose … they would win.”
Egypt is 97 percent dependent on the Nile for irrigation and drinking water, and considers the dam an “existential” threat.
Ethiopia says the $ 4 billion project is essential to its prosperity.
Washington’s attempt to negotiate a deal to resolve the dam problem earlier this year failed after Ethiopia accused the Trump administration of backing Egypt.
Currently, the African Union oversees the negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.
In early September, the United States announced the suspension of part of its financial aid to Ethiopia following Addis Ababa’s unilateral decision to fill the Renaissance dam, despite the lack of progress in negotiations with Egypt and Sudan.
Many Ethiopian officials believe that the existing relations between Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi cast a shadow over the US position on the dam.
On Saturday, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn wrote on Twitter: “I’m sorry to say that this man has no idea what he is talking about. Ethiopia and Ethiopians will never be threatened by such irresponsible statements.”
For his part, the Chancellor of the European Union, Josep Borrell, announced in a statement that an agreement “on the Great Renaissance Dam is imminent.”
“Right now, it is the moment to act, not to inflame tensions.”
[ad_2]
