Page 39 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 14

Leadership

ing the complex history of Ethiopia. According to African Intelligence,
Overturn Geo-Political Thinking the two leaders discussed new secu-
While the U.S., led by Secretary rity relations between their nations.
Blinken, is reversing decades of African Intelligence further reports
friendship between Ethiopia and that Egypt’s defense minister and
America, and endangering the Horn army chief of staff, who also visited
of Africa, the Biden administration Djibouti, “would like to see the creation
is enhancing its rapport with Egypt. of an Egyptian base in Djibouti not far Senator Bob Menendez (D. NJ)
Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations
On May 26th, while the Senate was from the Ethiopian border.” Committee (Courtesy foreign.senate.gov)
ratcheting up the pressure on Ethi-
opia, Secretary Blinken was in Cairo At his news conference in Djibouti, higher level of potential resolution.
conveying: President Sisi said: Instead, the U.S., dominated by
“President Biden’s appreciation to Pres- “I stressed Egypt’s rejection of any attempt geo-politics, is fixated on seeking
ident Sisi for Egypt’s critical mediation to impose a fait accompli through unilater- partners, who serve their narrow
efforts in support of a cease fire between al measures that disregard the interests and immediate interests, such as Egypt’s
Israel and Hamas…” rights of the two downstream countries.” role in mitigating the Israel-Palestine
“The Secretary affirmed the strong strategic Egypt has made repeated military crisis.
partnership between the United States and threats against Ethiopia, has formed In fact, there is no danger of Ethi-
Egypt, and President Biden’s commitment a military alliance with Sudan, and opia depriving downstream nations
to this relationship. He reiterated the last month, carried out joint mili- (Egypt and Sudan) of water for
United States’ commitment to Egypt’s tary exercises with Sudan labeled their people. This was admitted by
water security and to the urgent resump- “Guardians of the Nile”. Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh
tion of substantive and results oriented Since Egypt is the second largest Shoukry himself: Egypt Foreign
negotiations under the leadership of the recipient of U.S. aid next to Israel, Minister Says Water Safe Despite
African Union to resolve the dispute over it would not be difficult for the U.S. Ethiopian Dam Threat.
the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to convince Egypt to stand down. The GERD will actually help
(GERD).” both Egypt and Sudan by regu-
According to a knowledgeable lating the Nile, preventing deadly
The sovereign right of Ethiopia to expert on the region, the Biden floods, reducing evaporation, and
fill and operate the GERD for the administration is preparing to re- providing a water bank to draw
general welfare of its citizens has locate the hub of its anti-terrorism on in emergencies. However, the
become linked to the conditions in deployment in the Horn of Africa, GERD is not even the fundamental
Tigray. from Ethiopia to Kenya. The U.S. cause of Egypt’s water problem, as
is trying to persuade Gulf nations, Yaniv Cohen explains: Egypt has a
Democrat Senator Mendez, at the who support Ethiopia, to leverage water problem and it’s not only the
hearing ostensibly on Tigray, made their relationship in an effort to GERD
the same veiled threat on the GERD pressure Ethiopia to abandon its
as President Trump, who infamous- commitment to the GERD. The real issue concerning the Nile
ly suggested that Egypt might try President Biden may or may not River is strategic; the Nile does not
to blow-up the GERD. Mendez be aware of the implications of his have enough water to provide for
blurted out, that Egypt has told him decision to undermine Prime Minis- the hundreds of millions of Afri-
more than once, “if the GERD issue ter Abiy’s government and support cans living in the nations of the Nile
is not dealt with in a way that assures Egypt in their brinkmanship with Basin.
their water needs…they will do what is Ethiopia regarding the GERD. His For the economic growth and well
necessary…They have red lines…” administration, filled with person- being of the nations of the Nile Ba-
nel from the Obama and Clinton sin, more water is needed than the
On May 27, Egyptian President Sisi, presidencies, is following the same Nile can deliver. The equivalent of
traveled to Djibouti, whose port warped geo-political doctrine of his a second Nile has to be created by
provides access to the Gulf of Eden predecessors. Rather than respond- human beings. This is the discussion
and Indian Ocean for its neighbor ing to the fixed contours of the that should take place among the
and major trading partner, Ethiopia. contentiousness surrounding the Nile Basin nations and the larger in-
This was the first visit ever of an GERD, a true statesman would ternational communities. It requires
Egyptian head of state to Djibouti. desire to shift the discussion to a creative and visionary thinking,

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