Trump Offers To Mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Nov. 5, 2019 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump has offered to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia over the long-time conflict between the two countries over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) being built on the upper Nile River, reported Sputnik International. On Nov. 4 Trump spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi by phone, offering to host talks on Nov. 6 between officials from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to settle the dispute over the GERD. “Today, President Donald J. Trump spoke with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt. President Trump expressed support for Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan’s ongoing negotiations to reach a collaborative agreement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,” White House spokesperson Judd Deere said in a statement.

Efforts at talks among the three—Ethiopia whose dam would be the largest hydropower dam in Africa, and the two downstream Nile countries, Sudan and Egypt, which believe the dam could harm their water needs and interests—failed in early October.

Earlier, el-Sisi expressed confidence that these talks would lead to a successful solution to the dispute that has been going on for years. It also follows an agreement on Oct. 24 made on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit in Sochi between el-Sisi and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to restart negotiations by resuming “the operation of the independent technical negotiating commission in a more open and positive format” which will now meet on Nov. 6.