Egypt Hits Out At Ethiopia Over Claims GERD Dam Has Become African-Arab Dispute

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By Gobran Mohamed

Egypt has criticized Ethiopia for what it said were “false claims” following the Arab League’s backing of Egypt and Sudan over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project. 

A league resolution supported Egypt and Sudan’s call for a legally binding agreement over the operation of the dam, which they say unfairly allows Ethiopia to control the Nile’s resources.

Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Egypt’s decision to involve the Arab League was “an affront to the African Union and its member states” and a “deliberate mischaracterisation” of its position.

Cairo hit back on Wednesday, saying that the statement was “a desperate attempt to drive a wedge” between Arab and African countries and that Ethiopia had no right to speak for the entire continent.

Ahmed Abu Zeid, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said: “Egypt’s history of supporting national struggle movements and liberation from colonialism in Africa, and its efforts and the resources it allocates to support economic and social development and peace-building programs on the continent, are not at all consistent with flimsy allegations that Egypt is mobilizing Arab countries against African interests.”

Egypt receives more than 90 percent of its scarce fresh water from the Nile and fears the dam could devastate its economy, while Ethiopia says the GERD is key to its economic development and power generation.

Sudan is concerned about the dam’s safety and regulating water flows through its own dams and water stations.

As a result, a dispute between the three countries over the filling and operation of the dam remains unresolved.

All three parties signed a declaration of 10 principles in March 2015 in Khartoum. However, Addis Ababa refuses to sign a full agreement on the dam’s operation.

Arab News

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18 thoughts on “Egypt Hits Out At Ethiopia Over Claims GERD Dam Has Become African-Arab Dispute

  • May 26, 2023 at 4:58 pm
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    Ethiopia has full legitimate right to the Abay river!! Egyptians hegemony to tell us what we need to do is not acceptable. The GERD issue is not Arab leagues business!! we use our dam to generate electricity and the water is going back to the river. Egypt is trying to cell the water to countries in Asia (Arab countries), and not happy to see Ethiopia’s development. That is why it always create and support antgovernment forces in Ethiopia. Enough is enough!!!!

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    • May 26, 2023 at 6:04 pm
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      To all Egyptian,
      Do not take your Gov’t lie as 85% the water you drink , you used for farming and industry comes from the high lands of Ethiopia(Abyssinia) done case close(abeden)
      Make no mistake your politician lies too much they sale the water and criticised the nation Ethiopia.
      GERD which is not Nile project, it is Abay river project belongs to the people of Ethiopian and it is their decision to do what ever they want. “ያባይን ልጅ ውሀ ጠማው አሉ”. Egypt and Sudan for million years you have been extracting all th e natural resource of Ethiopians free(this is totally exploitation) and you are colonialists on other nation resourse. The nation Ethiopia total understands you need the Abay river water to live but you guys do not need equitably share of the water. Rather you need robbery and you have been doing it. Let me ask you tell me the time you supported this nation while it was affected by famine in the past. but you used the water and harvested a lot of grain and you sale it and in other way specifically the Egyptian support several different groups to diatratc the Ethiopian government and make the poor and poor. It is known Egyptians your government is and had been supporting rebels with weapon and financially to attack the water nation that feed you free. in other aspect you used the water , sale fertile soil and sale the water to other party while you support the citizens of Ethiopian to live below poverty and in war.
      Now you take the issue to Arab league to politisize it. Don’t forget the Ethiopians are bees for the external enemy’s. Time is changed the citizen build it and the will utilize their resourse with equality not significantly harming others.
      The Ethippians know Egyptians hand supporting wepon finance this north and other rebels that kill more than a miliaon citizen. So you better watch “all options are at Ethiopians hand”
      You better engage rather than distract.

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    • May 27, 2023 at 3:57 am
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      The Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) is the one that Egypt and Sudan, still not willing to sign, that helps in coming to agreement in reasonable water sharing without significant harm to anyone. Egyptian government, hiding from its people and from Arab countries through deceptive lying, misinformation and disinformation, continues to confuse the issue. It insists of keeping the status quo of having full right of the Nile water use though Egypt’s contribution is zero while Ethiopia contributes over eighty six, yes >86%, to the Nile water. This is not acceptable and Egypt and it’s misguided Arab countries supporting its hegemonic propaganda should realize quickly. Dr. Erkabu Megeno.

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  • May 26, 2023 at 5:36 pm
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    ABAY River is our water. The country that contribute 0% can’t tell us what to do and not do.

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  • May 26, 2023 at 5:43 pm
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    It is pure science to understand that GERD is an hydroelectric dam. The water will flow downstream after hitting the turbine. And again, GERD is a reservoir on the highlands for Egypt and Sudan if they understand water will evaporates when stored in high temperature area like Toshka Lakes.
    With regard to dam safety, GERD is being built by reputable construction companies in the whole world!
    They should refrain from empty and futile allegations against us.
    Ethiopia clearly abides by the declaration of principles of Khartoum. Not colonial era mindset of Egypt.

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    • May 26, 2023 at 10:27 pm
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      Situation on the ground changed long time. despite tremendous pressure by Egypt for many years relentless campaigning to stop any loan from international banks for the Dam project.we Ethiopians mobilized our resources and achieved what was dreamed by past generations. we don’t accept colonial era treaties which works for colonised people not for ever free Ethiopians. the dam is beneficial for all countries if there is good sense and good will to cooperate but the way Egypt handled the process from the start sabotaging, helping rebels,lobbying international doners banks etc didn’t help at all , except it strengthened our resolve to see project through at any cost.Egyptians are our brothers and Abay is more than enough for all of us just get rid of this worship of colonial past and colonial treaties and negotiate in good faith to reach a deal which is right for current generation and for this century

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    • May 27, 2023 at 1:32 am
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      Egypt is always greed? who disintegrate Iraq collaborating with the Westerns during Mubarak Era? Purely Egypt. Egypt is always jealousy coUntry

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  • May 26, 2023 at 6:30 pm
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    since when is river Nile an Arab river? why do you even bother to bring Nile issue on the recently concluded arab summit in saudi Arabia? if you think you can pressure Ethiopia by conducting futile military exercises with Sudan, go ahead and continue your bluff, for a barking dog does not and will not bite.
    threats by Egypt to bomb GERD, was, and is, and will be just an empty threat. did you ever fathom the consequence of retaliation on high aswan dam?
    86.5% of Nile water originates from Ethiopian highlands and will use its fair share in the future, whether you like it or not. colonial treaty that Egypt rely on as the sole beneficiary of Nile water is dead for good. get over the dead colonial era treaty, and negotiate on good faith for a win win solution for all. no country on earth will stop Ethiopia from utilizing its Allah endowed water gift without causing significant harm to either Egypt or Sudan.
    countries like Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania-South Sudan-DRC-Ruwanda-Burundi-Eritrea will sooner or later demand fair share of the Nile water.
    forget futile military threat and dead colonial era treaties and work for a win win solution for all repariran countries. we will all either flourish together or perish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    • May 26, 2023 at 8:21 pm
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      I feel sorry for those who think that nile (abay) ጊዮን river is for those countries that contribute nothing*

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      • May 27, 2023 at 1:44 pm
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        Ethiopia’s comment about the involvement of the Arab League is correct. Why should the Arab League get involved? If the Egyptian government trusts, the African Union it would attempt to finalize the agreement through the Africa Union. Instead of going to AU, Egyptian gov went to the Arab League, implying that the Egyptian government believes and trust the League more than the AU

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    • May 27, 2023 at 4:49 am
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      One anti colonial Africa.

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  • May 27, 2023 at 9:39 am
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    I fear Egypt will go to war over fear of water losses.

    Ehtiopia is correct the Aswan dam was foolish odiot Russian idea to build it at Aswan. so much water is loatcto evaporation . Aswan should be tore doqn and amother dn built in ethiopia ans share electertocity with Egypt
    Saudi Arabia and other wealthy gulf states cam fund it.

    Both Ethipio and Egypt are severly overpopulated.

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    • May 28, 2023 at 7:15 pm
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      No more colony and arrogance!

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  • May 27, 2023 at 10:53 pm
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    To Egypt, Ethiopia, Ruwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, North Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Eritrea, may God bless the soil you live on and the water that you drink. Jesus is going to come back and make things equitable for all of us, until then, we must try to get along with each other. The Bible says what have a man profited, if he gains the whole world and looses is soul.

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  • May 28, 2023 at 12:32 am
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    There’s much to gain if the regional leaders genuinely put their heads together.
    All the countries in question have genuine concerns and fears regarding the Nile water, such fears are easily dispelled through science.
    As decolonization happened, the colonial agreements became obsolete and needed review, negotiation and implementation to meet current requirements, objectives and population.
    Ethiopia needs power and sees the water as a source of power; can the regional governments provide alternative sources of power for Ethiopia to use?
    Negotiate, cooperate and live harmoniously!

    Reply
  • May 28, 2023 at 4:31 am
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    Egypt didn’t ask any of it’s neighbors about building it’s dam it didn’t care who or what it destroyed it built it. why should Ethiopian’s seek Egypt permission to help develop it country power systems.

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  • May 28, 2023 at 9:40 am
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    Ethiopia has every right to the water resource of the Nile. Egypt signed the archaic Nile water treaty with colonial entities which were/are not in any way part of Africa. It beats logic that Egypt demands the sole usage of the Nile water while countries upstream should have zero benefit from the resource. This is unparrelled greed!! Kenya should use water in rivers flowing into Lake Victoria for irrigation & other uses demanding huge amounts of water. Tanzania, Uganda should follow suit. Using the Nile water by upstream states is not a favor; it is an inalienable right. Egypt presentation of the matter to the Arab Legue is a shameful misdirection. Kenya should embark with alacrity the tapping of rivers Yara & Sondu waters for use in ways beneficial to it’s citizens. I rest my case.

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  • May 29, 2023 at 1:37 pm
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    Egypt and Sudan tried all peaceful means to reach an agreement with Ethiopia but Ethiopia refuses all solutions. The agreement between the the three countries was that no party should take unilateral steps but Ethiopia did three fillings without consulting the other two parties in violation of the declaration signed between the three countries .All negotiations held under the umbrella of the African union failed because Ethiopia didn’t want a solution but was only buying time to finish filling the dam. Any attempt by Ethiopia to make a rift between Egypt and her African brothers will fail because Egypt did everything she can to help her brothers gain independence and in spite of our economic problems we are trying to help as much as we can. This is our duty and we are cooperating in building many projects for the welfare of the continent.

    Reply

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