Petition to preserve Egyptians' right to Nile water amasses over 112,000 signatures

A Change.org petition created by the Egyptian American Council urging Ethiopia “not to undertake unilateral measures in regard to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)” has so far gathered more than 112,000 signatures.
The petition titled “Egyptians' Right to Nile Water” aims to gather 150,000 signatures and calls for a “balanced win-win solution” to the GERD crisis.
“We request that you abide by the 2015 Agreement on the Declaration of Principles (DoP) and not to anoint yourself as the unchallenged and sole beneficiary of the Nile, ” the petition read.
The petition calls out Ethiopia for its decision to fill the GERD unilaterally in July 2020 despite not reaching an agreement with downstream states, and for suspending its participation in the US-mediated negotiations.
“Ethiopia has the right to grow but Egypt also has the right to live,” a video promoting the petition said. “Support life, support the Nile flowing in Egypt.”
“A balanced win-win solution is at hand and the opportunity to chart a new course and redraw the history of the Blue Nile is within our grasp,” the petition continued.
Egypt and Ethiopia have been in conflict over the technical details regarding the operation and filling of the GERD.
Ethiopia hopes that the massive $4.8 billion project on the Blue Nile will allow it to become Africa’s largest power exporter.
Egypt, which is downstream from the dam, fears that the project will diminish its share of Nile water, on which it is almost entirely reliant for its fresh water.
The US stepped in to host negotiations in November after the three countries had announced that talks had reached a dead end, and after Egypt had asked for an international mediator.
Egypt has accused Ethiopia of "deliberately" impeding the course of negotiations following skipping the February meetings and the US Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said following the Ethiopian move that “the final testing and filling should not take place without an agreement.”
Source: ahram

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suspension of US aid to Ethiopia is yet another example of Trump’s disregard for Africa

Image
America’s Department of State recently suspended   $130 million worth of aid to Ethiopia because of “a lack of progress” on negotiations pertaining to the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the River Nile. According to state department officials, the decision to cut aid came as a result of a direct “ guidance ” from President Donald Trump. Estimates  show that almost half of Ethiopia’s budget is linked to foreign aid. The country depends on  economic assistance  to support its infrastructure projects, health care and education expansion efforts, and security sector reforms. By suspending some aid, the United States has reopened the debate on whether developing countries should depend on foreign aid to realise their economic goals. The decision to suspend aid to Ethiopia comes after  almost 10 years of regional and international efforts  to mediate the dam dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia. Almost  60% of Ethiopians  do not have access to electricity. The renaissanc
Read more

UAE and Ethiopia discuss more avenues to enhance cooperation

Image
  Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), received at the Fund’s headquarters Suleiman Dedefo, Ambassador of Ethiopia to the UAE. Senior officials from both sides were present at the meeting. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and means of developing them, especially through the Fund’s support to the Ethiopian government to achieve sustainable development goals by financing development and investment projects. Al Suwaidi emphasised the Fund’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia in its developmental efforts, noting that the visit presented an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest. The meeting was part of the continuous coordination, particularly over the Fund’s support to the Ethiopian government to achieve its economic objectives. Dedefo expressed appreciation for the UAE, as well as ADFD, for supporting his country in its effort to achieve sustainable developmental goals and economic priorities. He pointed out that the
Read more

The 9 Most Beautiful Towns and Cities in Africa

Image
The African continent is not only about impressive animals, stunning deserts and beautiful savannahs. It is also home to astonishing cities and towns that are rich in history and culture. Here are our top picks. Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town is a vibrant and colorful city with stunning beaches, beautiful mountains and some of the best vineyards in Africa. Taking the cable car ride to  the top of Table Mountain  at sunrise or sunset to take in the beautiful views is a must. With all the sophistication and activities that can be found in the city, this seaside playground certainly has enough to offer to everyone. Essaouira, Morocco With an ancient medina and lustrous fortifications that date back to the 18th century, miles of stunning beaches, and a charming harbour and fish market to stroll around,  Essaouira is one the most beautiful towns to visit  on the continent. It guarantees moments of peace and tranquility far away from the mayhem of bigger cities and the charmless all
Read more