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Ethiopia aims to redress historical imbalance on the water allocation from the Abay river as Egypt seeks to maintain monopoly over it
borkena
August 17, 2020
Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt have resumed virtual talk over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Sunday.
The African Union-led Ministerial level meeting is attended by the Foreign Affairs Ministers and water and irrigation affairs ministers from the three countries.
They are negotiating the filing and operation of Ethiopia’s $4 billion dams which Ethiopia says will not cause harm to the legitimate water shares of the two lower riparian counties.
The European Union and the US government have attended it as an observer.
A report published on Monday by VOA said Sudan and Egypt are optimistic about reaching an agreement with Ethiopia. The two countries said “negotiating with Ethiopia is the only way to resolve disputes over the dam, but Sudan warned Egypt against making any “unilateral procedures.”
It was during a meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries in Khartoum over the weekend that they expressed support to the African Union-led negotiation.
According to the source, Sudan asked Egypt to avoid taking unilateral actions without consulting with Sudan.
Egypt has been claiming a “historical right” over the Nile making a reference to the colonial era water arrangements which gave the lion’s share of the water from Abay River to Egypt and Ethiopia was not part of the agreement. GERD, from Ethiopian standpoint, is an opportunity to rectify historically imbalances of water use from Abay.
Under the existing arrangement, Ethiopia has zero percent of water share while it is generating 86 percent of the water that flows to the lower courses of the river (Egypt and Sudan.)
The Sudan Tribune quoted Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Gedu Andargachew, on Sunday as saying “…since the Nile river basin holds 2/3 of Ethiopia’s water resources, utilizing it is a matter of sovereignty and an essential requirement for the development of the country.”
Ethiopia completed the first stage of the filing last month during the first two weeks when the country received heavy rainfall.
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August 17, 2020
Commentary, 17 Aug 2020
It is is always interesting to note the behaviour of Europeans — for time immemorial — in the affairs of countries around the Globe. It is Europeans INHERENT NATURE to interfer in the affairs of other countries around the Globe. Europe has no qualms in the consequential effects of its behaviour toward other countries around the Globe.
Take the case of the Nile, and in particular about Blue Nile, which originates in Ethiopia. But Britain, in its appetite to interfere in the affairs of others around the Globe, decided to make a treaty with Egypt on the affairs of the Blue Nile!!!! Ethiopia, the source of the Blue Nile, was never invited to participate in the discussion!!!!. That says a million about the negative attitude of Britain and Egypt towards the Black African Nations. It is the foundation of Europeans attitude towards Black African People. Egypt, similarly, fights tooth and nail NOT to be associated Black Africans — at any cost.
Therefore, the REALITY of the SITUATION is IRON CLAD — NEVER , NEVER, HAVE MEANINGFUL MEETINGS WITH THE BLACK SKIN AFRICANS ON ANY WORTHY MATTER UNDER THE SUN. Take the following quotation from the above Article. QUOTE: “ The European Union and the US government have attended it as an observer“ UNQUOTE . The truth of the matter is simple. Europeans and White Americans are in favour of Egypt against any Black Race Africans, on any matter. In that atmosphere, Ethiopia will NEVER get justice of ownership and economic result out of its own WATER. It is the most glaring blind reaction, out of hatred, against BLACK RACE by WHITE RACE Europeans and Arabs.
ETHIOPIA IS ON ITS OWN, DEFENDING ITS INTEREST OUT OF ITS OWN RESOURCES. Ethiopia has more than ample examples to arrive at its own analysis and decision by itself, for its economic survival. Will the UN help? The Ethiopian proverb says it all in a question form: “DON’T YOU HAVE A DEAD RELATIVE?” THE END.
Stand firm ethiopia.