Ethiopia: Government Reacts to U.S. Aid Cut

The United States has formally backed Egypt and punish Ethiopia over the river water sharing dispute between the two African nations.

Development Diaries reports that the U.S. had one week ago announced blocking a $130 million aid that had been earmarked to support Ethiopia’s defence and anti-terrorism efforts.

It was learnt that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed the cut in aid, ostensibly to build pressure on Ethiopia.

‘We have officially requested the U.S. administration that they give us an explanation’, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Washington, Fitsum Arega, said in a tweet.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had earlier rejected an agreement brokered by the U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin related to the filling and operation of the $5billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Relations between Cairo and Addis Ababa have been strained over the filling and operation of the dam that has come upon the Blue Nile, one of the tributaries of the River Nile.

Meanwhile, it is understood that the African Union has urged its Assembly of Heads of State and Government to prevent any escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump had conducted several rounds of talks involving Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt in Washington.

After five months of exercise mediated by Mnuchin and the officials of the World Bank, a draft was prepared in February without the consent of Ethiopia and Sudan. Both refused to sign the document.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Photo source: Getty Images

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