The United States is set to restart mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Nile river and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), President Donald Trump announced over the weekend.
In a letter addressed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Trump warned of the risk of a military confrontation between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Nile waters.
Trump said he wants to resolve tensions involving the GERD and Nile waters and his administration has taken it as a “very top agenda,” linking the issue to his broader push for “lasting peace in the Middle East and Africa.”
“I am ready to restart U.S. mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to responsibly resolve the question of the Nile Water Sharing once and for all,” Trump wrote.
Trump said Washington’s position was that “no state in this region should unilaterally control the precious resources of the Nile, putting its neighbours at a disadvantage”.
According to the letter, Trump believes a deal is achievable through “the right technical expertise, fair and transparent negotiations, and a strong United States role in monitoring and coordinating between parties.”
He said such an agreement could “guarantee predictable water releases during droughts and prolonged dry years for Egypt and the Sudan,” while allowing Ethiopia “to generate very substantial amounts of electricity,” some of which could be “given, or sold, to Egypt and/or the Sudan.”
The letter was copied to several regional leaders, notably Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, signaling Riyadh’s potential interest or role in regional diplomacy around the Nile and GERD.
Also CC’d were UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie; and Sudan’s transitional council chairman, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
MG/as/APA