Egypt and Ethiopia Leaders Meet in Cairo for Productive Talks on Nile Dam Project

FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Egypt and Ethiopia Leaders Meet in Cairo for Productive Talks on Nile Dam Project

June 11, 2018 (EIRNS)—The new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is on a two-day visit to Egypt which began on June 9, at which he came to very productive agreements with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who warmly received him in Cairo. On the top of the list of issues was Ethiopia’s $4 billion Grand Renaissance Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in Africa, now being built on the Blue Nile tributary of the river, which has been of concern to the Egyptians.

“We have come a long way in building confidence and strengthening bilateral cooperation,” el-Sisi said at the press conference with Ahmed.

For his part Ahmed said, “We will take care of the Nile and we will preserve your share and we will work to increase this quota and President Sisi and I will work on this.”

They agreed to take steps to conclude an agreement which will also include Sudan. They also want to reach an agreement to set up a fund for investing in infrastructure in the three countries.

Towards the end of their news conference, Sisi asked Ahmed to swear to God before the Egyptian people that he will not hurt Egypt’s share of the Nile. “I swear to God, we will never harm you,” said Ahmed, repeated the words in Arabic after el-Sisi. The Egyptian President also pardoned and released 32 jailed Ethiopians who had been sentenced for crossing the border illegally.