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Filling of Grand Ethiopian Dam Shouldn’t Begin Without Agreement: USA

The United States of America cautions Ethiopia to refrain from filling and testing its giant dam on Nile before reaching an agreement with Sudan and Egypt.

The US Treasury Department, in its statement released yesterday after a meeting with ministers of Sudan and Egypt in the absence of Ethiopia, said final testing and filling of the dam should not take place without an agreement.

While saying so, the treasury cited the principles set out in the Declaration of Principles, which was signed by the three countries in 2015, and in particular, the principles of not causing significant harm to downstream countries.

“We also note the concern of downstream populations in Sudan and Egypt due to unfinished work on the safe operation of the GERD, and the need to implement all necessary dam safety measures in accordance with international standards before filling begins,” the statement reads.

“A signed agreement on the GERD will be transformational for the region, resulting in significant trans-boundary cooperation, regional development and economic integration, and improvement in the lives of the more than 250 million people of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan,” The US treasury noted.

Despite the assurance of the department, however, many Ethiopia expressed their disappointment with the statement released by the US, which was first an observer along with World Bank, but it later started acting as a mediator.

“The issue of GERD is an obvious just cause and USA’s undue influence is a typical case of neo-colonialism and imperialism, which African countries should unanimously reject,” said Jawar Mohammed, a renowned Political Figure, suggesting the government to write a letter to the US strongly opposing the preparation of the deal in the absence of Ethiopia.

By the same token, Zemedeneh Negatu, an Investment Consultant, tweeted: “Ethiopia, 110Pct owner and financier of GERD, but on its river, has the sole right to fill the dam at any time.”

The US has facilitated the preparation of an agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) ‘based on provisions proposed by the legal and technical teams of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan and with the technical input of the World Bank.’

In the past two months, Officials of US, during a series of meetings held in Addis Ababa, Washington and Cairo, have been pressuring Ethiopian officials to accept an agreement that could compromise its interest to generate power from its giant dam and increase access to electricity for its alarmingly growing population, according to sources close to the matter.

Despite such a claim, however, the US believes that the work completed over the last four months through series of meetings has resulted in an agreement that addresses all issues in a balanced and equitable manner, taking into account the interests of the three countries. It also vowed to remain engaged with the three countries until they sign the final agreement.

 

 

 

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