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Pro-Sisi TV host criticises US over stance toward Ethiopia dam

May 10, 2021 at 4:16 pm

A general view of the Blue Nile river as it passes through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on 26 December, 2019 [EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP via Getty Images]

An Egyptian TV host known for his support for President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s regime has accused the US administration of encouraging Addis Ababa to complete the construction of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and to fill the reservoir with water for the second year in a row despite objections from fellow Nile Basin states who say that the dam threatens their historical quotas of Nile waters.

In his show on the Sada Al Balad TV station, Ahmed Moussa said that the US administration “does not want to resolve the conflict, and it could coerce Ethiopia to stop the second filing and return to negotiations [if it wants] but it wants to pressure Egypt.” Moussa blamed the US administration, adding that its predecessor, the Donald Trump administration, was stronger.

He said that Trump had said that if Egypt had attacked the GERD, the US would not blame it.

Moussa also praised the Sisi government for holding Ethiopia responsible before the world regarding GERD.

He noted that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s president, who currently heads the African Union, is believed to be planning to lead an initiative to resolve the issue.

READ: Sudan officials meet with US envoy over stalled dam talks

“Egypt’s stance is that water is an exaptational issue, and Ethiopia should not start the second filling without [reaching] an agreement because that would mean controlling the fate of 150 million Egyptian and Sudanese [citizens].”

Moussa criticised Ethiopia for failing to recognise historical agreements about Nile water quotas and said that if Addis Ababa refrains from filling the dam this year, then there would be a chance for reaching an agreement.

Ethiopia insists on going ahead with its second filling of the dam during the upcoming rainy season in July and August.

Ethiopia is building a $5 billion dam near the border with Sudan it says will provide the country with much-needed electricity and economic regeneration. Egypt believes it will restrict its access to Nile waters.

Never-ending fight between Egypt/Ethiopia and Sudan over the Renaissance Dam - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

Never-ending fight between Egypt/Ethiopia and Sudan over the Renaissance Dam – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]