Ethiopia seeks Clarification on Trump’s ‘blowing up’ Nile Dam Comment

ADDIS ABEBA – Gedu Andargachew, Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, has summoned today the United States Ambassador Mike Raynor to seek clarifications on the remarks the US President made regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is at the centre of a long-running dispute involving Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.

Trump said Egypt would not be able to live with the dam and might “blow up” the construction during his telephone conversation with the Prime Ministers of Sudan and the State of Israel.

Ethiopia sees the US as siding with Egypt in the dispute.

The US announced in September that it would cut some aid to Ethiopia after it began filling the reservoir behind the dam in July.

‘Inciting war’

During the meeting with Ambassador Raynor, foreign minister Gedu underscored “the statement on the GERD and the negotiation process as misleading and wrong as the GERD doesn’t stop the flow of the Nile waters”.

“The incitement of war between Ethiopia and Egypt from a sitting US president neither reflects the longstanding partnership and strategic alliance between Ethiopia and the United States nor is acceptable in International Law governing interstate relations,” said the Minister.

The Minister further informed the Ambassador that “Ethiopia has never and will not in the future succumb to threats to its sovereignty”.

Gedu also said his country will be committed to continue the trilateral negotiations under the framework of the African Union.