Confidential letter from a diplomat disclosed: Tigirans evacuation from Metema to Sudan was orchestrated by the regime

ዋዜማ ራዲዮ- በቅርቡ ምዕራብ ኢትዮጵያ ሱዳን ድንበር አቅራቢያ መተማ- ዮሀንስ አካባቢ በትግርኛ ተናጋሪ ኢትዮጵያውያን ላይ ተፈፀመ የተባለው ዘርን ያማከለ ጥቃት ሆነ ተብሎ በፀጥታ ሰራተኞች የተቀነባበረ እንደነበረ ጉዳዩን በቅርብ የመረመሩ የዲፕሎማቲክ ምንጮች መሰከሩ።

አጋጣሚውን የትግራይ ክልል መንግስት አልያም የሀገሪቱ የደህንነት ባለስልጣናት “የዘር-ፍጅት አደጋ” እንደተከሰተ አድርገው በማቅረብ ከሀገር ውስጥም ሆነ ከዓለም ዓቀፉ ማህበረሰብ ሀዘኔታና ድጋፍ ለማግኘት ሙከራ ማድረጋቸውን የሚያሳዩ መረጃዎች ተገኝተዋል።

የዋዜማ ሁነኛ የዲፕሎማቲክ ምንጮች ባደረሱን መረጃ- ድርጊቱ በተፈፀመበት ወቅት በስፍራው የነበሩ የረድኤት ስራተኞች ፣ ከድርጊቱ በኋላ ወደ ስፍራው ያመሩ ሁለት አጣሪ ቡድኖችና የአማራ ክልል መንግስት ባልስልጣናት የደረሱበት መደምደሚያ፣ የመንግስት የደህንነት ሰራተኞች በበላይ አለቆቻቸው ትዕዛዝ መሰረት የትግራይ ተወላጆች ሸሽተው ወደ ሱዳን እንዲገቡ አድርገዋል።

ሽሽቱ ከመጀመሩ በፊት በአካባቢው ውጥረት እንደነበረ ግን ደግሞ የትግራይ ተወላጆች ላይ በተለይ ያነጣጠረ እንዳልነበረ ኋላ ግን በርካታ ትግርኛ ተናጋሪዎች ሽሽት መጀመራቸው ድንጋጤን ፈጥሮ እንደነበር ተቀማጭነታቸው አዲስ አበባ የሆነ ዲፕሎማት በፃፉት የውስጥ ስነድ ላይ ገልፀዋል።

ይህን ጉዳይ ማጣራት ያሰፈለገው የተባለው እውነት ከሆነ ችግሩን ለመቀልበስ በማለም እንደነበር ሰነዱ በመግቢያው ያትታል።

የትግርኛ ተወላጆቹ ሽሽት ከመጀመራቸው በፊት ፀጉረ – ልውጥ የፀጥታ ሰራተኞች ወደስፍራው መድረሳቸውንና የአካባቢው (የአማራ ክልል ባለስልጣናት) ስዎች በመኪና ተጭነው እስኪወጡ የሚያውቁት ነገር እንዳልነበር ምስክርነት ሰጥተዋል። የትግርኛ ተናጋሪዎቹ ከአካባቢው ሲወጡና ጉዞ ሲጀምሩ በደህንነት ሰራተኞቹ ፊልም መቀረፃቸውን መመልከታቸውን የአካባቢው ነዋሪዎች ተናግረዋል። ቢያንስ ሶስት መኖሪያ ቤቶች ላይ ነዋሪዎቹ ከወጡ በኋላ ባልታወቁ ሰዎች ጥቃት መፈፀሙን የሚያሳይ መረጃ አለ።

በወቅቱ በስፍራው የነበሩ ሶስት የረድዔት ሰራተኞች በአጋጣሚ ሰዎች የተሰባሰቡበት አካባቢ በመገኘታቸው ለአራት ሰዓታት በአነስተኛ ምግብ ቤትውስጥ ታግተው እንደነበርና ስልኮቻቸውና ካሜራቸው ላይ የነበሩ ምስሎች መበርበራቸውን ተናግረዋል።

ይህን ጉዳይ ለማጣራት ወደ ስፍራው የተላኩ ሁለት የተለያዩ መረጃ አሰባሳቢዎች ያገኙት መረጃ የትግርኛ ተናጋሪዎቹ ሽሽት በተደራጀ መልክ መካሄዱን የሚያሳዩ መረጃዎች መኖራቸውን ሪፖርት አድርገዋል።

“አካባቢው ለድንበር ቅርብ በመሆኑ ከፍተኛ ወታደራዊና የደህንነት ሰራተኞች የሚንቀሳቀሱበት ሆኖ ሳለ ለምን ሌሎች የደህንነት ሰራተኞች ከመቀሌ ወይም ከአዲስ አበባ ወደ ስፍራው እንደተላኩ ግልፅ አይደለም” ይላሉ መረጃ አሰባሳቢዎቹ።

“በትግርኛ ተናጋሪዎች ላይ ስጋትና ፍራቻ መኖሩን መካድ አይቻልም ይሁንና ኢትዮጵያውያን በአመዛኙ ለማህበራዊ ትስስር በሚሰጡት ልዩ ዋጋ ይህ አብሮነት እንዲናጋ የሚፈቅዱ አይደሉም፣ በመተማ የነበረው ሁኔታም በዚህ መነፅር መታየት ይኖርበታል” ይላሉ ዲፕሎማቱ በሰነዱ ላይ ባሰፈሩት አስተያየት።

“እስካሁን ባለን መረጃ ጥቃት የተፈፀመባቸው የትግርኛ ተናጋሪዎች በቁጥር እጅግ ኢምንት ናቸው። በአብዛኛው ገና ለገና ጥቃት ይፈፀምብኛ በሚል ስጋት ከባህር ዳር ጎንደርና የኦሮሚያ አንዳንድ አካባቢዎች መኖሪያቸውን ለቀው ወደ አዲስ አበባና ወደ ትግራይ ያመሩ መኖራቸውንእናውቃለን” ይላል ሪፖርቱ ።

“ይህን ስጋት የደህንነት ተቋሙ እንደ ጥሩ አጋጣሚ ሊጠቀምበት መሞከሩን በቂ ፍንጮች አሉ” ይላል ሰነዱ። “ለፕሮፖጋንዳ ፍጆታና የትግራይ ተወላጆችን ከጎኑ ለማሰለፍ ፍላጎት እንዳለው ማሳያ ነው”

“ለሌሎች ኢትዮጵያውያንም ሀገሪቱ በዘር ፍጅት አደጋ አፋፍ ላይ እንዳለች አስመስሎ በማሳየት በሀገሪቱ ያለው ተቃውሞ ‘አደጋ ያመጣል’ የሚል ስጋት የማጫር ዕቅድም ሊኖረው ይችላል። ይህን ዋናው የደህንነት መስሪያ ቤት ወይም የትግራይ ክልል በተናጠል/ በጋራ ያደረገው መሆኑን መረጋገጥ አልቻልንም”

የትግራይ ክልል አልያም የማዕከላዊ መንግስት የዘር ፍጅት አደጋ ማንዣበቡን በመተማው አጋጣሚ በማሳየት ራሱን አረጋጊና የሰላም ዋስትና የማድረግ ለዓለም አቀፉ ማህበረሰብም ያለ ኢህአዴግ አመራር ሀገሪቱ ወደ እልቂት እንደምትገባ ለማመላከት ዓላማ ሊያውለው መሞከሩን ዲፕሎማቱ በሰጡት አስተያየት አስፍረዋል።

በጎንደር ተቃውሞ ተባብሶ በነበረበት ሀምሌ 2008 የኢትዮጵያ መንግስት በኢትዮጵያ ሳተላይት ቴሌቭዥን (ኢሳትና) በአሜሪካ ድምፅ ራዲዮ የአማርኛው ክፍል (VOA ላይ የዘር ፍጅት ቅስቀሳ አድርገውብኛል ሲል ለአሜሪካ መንግስት ክስ አቅርቦ ነበር። ክሱ ተቀባይነት አላገኘም።

የኢትዮጵያ ደህንነት መስሪያ ቤት ራሱ ፈንጂ በማፈንዳት ተቃዋሚ የፖለቲካ ሀይሎችንና ኤርትራን ይወነጅል እንደነበረ ከዚህ ቀደም ይፋ የሆነ የአሜሪካምስጢራዊ የዲፕሎማቲክ ሰነድ መግለፁ ይታወሳል።

Source: http://wazemaradio.com/?p=2853

Police: Two Million Ethiopians Violating Residence Conditions

Khartoum - A High level police official disclosed the number of foreigners residing in violation of the law in Khartoum state, has reached three million. Two million are from the state of Ethiopia and 200,000 from Eritrea, foreigners from other nationalities residing illegally in Sudan has totaled 52650.
Khartoum State Governor Lt. Gen. Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussein said this on Tuesday, whilst addressing the conference of the issues affecting the security and criminal status in Khartoum, organised by the state police on recommendations by the security committee. He announced issues related to foreign presence and human trafficking, are of deep concern to the government.

Source : http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/details.html?rsnpid=257324

Sudan’s Ambassador: ‘Ethiopia trying to expand because their land is not enough"

Sudan's ambassador in Addis Ababa Osman Nafi's (hooray)
Mbeki "cornered his nose in all the affairs of Sudan because it plans to expand globally
Ethiopian militias that threaten supported by the Government Alomehra region farmers
The current time is not appropriate for negotiations on the two regions with the SPLM
Ethiopian incursion in Sudanese territory since the sixties and the escalation in the government of Sadiq al-Mahdi
This (...) is the fact that the stage of mutual harm between Khartoum and Addis Ababa
Ethiopians more than 100 million and they want to stretch in the Sudanese territory after that narrowed their home
Our agreement allows farmers Ethiopian agriculture on that land be under the sovereignty of Sudan
"" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ""
Interviewed in Addis Ababa: Ataef Abdul Wahab
Sudanese ambassador in Addis Ababa Osman Nafie said that there are doubts about the success of the negotiations between the government and the SPLM in what is known round the tenth in Addis Ababa, and re-doubts to enter Mbeki in all issues of Sudan in order to extend, regionally and globally Othman stressed that the time is appropriate now for the negotiations.
In another context, the ambassador revealed the identity of the armed militias Balvhqh, said they follow the Government of the Territory which follows the Amhara tribe which is along the border with Sudan, pointing out that the census in Ethiopia blast after arriving to 100 million people. While he said that Ethiopia wants to expand in the Sudanese territory, but he came back and said that this problem is old since the sixties and specifically the government of Mr. Imam Sadiq al-Mahdi, the ambassador said that the problem lies in the open relations of the country is not adjacent to Ethiopia only, but in all the border east and west and north .. to Minutes of the interview:
Mr. Ambassador How do we look now to the Ethiopian-Sudanese relations?
Ethiopia and Sudan are undergoing political stability and diplomat between them. Excellent short.
Of crisis situation in Alvhqh and you know that the last incident, which claimed the lives of as more newspapers published enabled the 25 martyrs, there are those who say that in a particular season in which Ethiopians Ptngulwa on the borders of a million acres in Gedaref What is your reading of this?
Old problem, not born of the moment or the result of yesterday, nearly set off for a long time, I can say that since the sixties, days Abdullah Abdulrahman since the days of the Government of Abdallah Khalil, particularly in the government of Mr. Sadiq al-Mahdi, and discussed in this subject between the two countries, if the incursion Ethiopian in Sudanese territory was not only attacked the latter on Sudanese farmers, I want to tell you something and know our family farmers Alsudaniyon on the border well, the days of Emperor Haile Selassie was the Ethiopian government pursues a unique approach, superb service policy for its people and their children, Ethiopia As everyone knows suffer from the problem of population explosion , they are now more than one hundred million people, and thus they are trying to stretch because their land has narrowed them, Hilaslasa was giving any army officer retired aids and facilities of free money the state, on the basis of which it goes a retired officer and continue the rest of his life in agriculture. Yes farmers lying in those Sudanese territory.
So where is the fault?
The imbalance that we do not have we in Sudan over the population of those territories and we do not suffer from the country's population explosion, Sudanese farmers come to those areas in the planting and harvesting seasons only, but then go back where they came from and these areas become empty.
The latter is in Sudanese territory?
We were given an opportunity to expand, these neighboring areas of Sudan regions Alomehra and even understand the issue dimensions are all I'll be with you and clear, the group in power now are from Tigray, and those at the border are Amhara regions have been one day in power, so maybe they had a position now .
Also what we are in our relationship with Sudan in this matter?
The problem is that the Ethiopians were not confessing demarcation of the boundary drawn by the British at the time, particularly at the turn of the last century.
It means Henw .. Ethiopia, Sudan and one?
No, not well, but we Taattorna in this matter, who drew the border at the time called Mr. Quinn, and he was representative of the British government at the time, and line the border between Sudan and Ethiopia is very well known and uncomplicated, but they do not recognize, as I said the issue of planning because they believe it has been in a period of colonial.
Who are those who do not recognize the planning, the Ethiopian government or Alomehra areas?
Alomehra areas that do not recognize the planning, and I've period came to the Convention in 1973 in a period of Nimeiri after the July 71 events, and relations improved between Sudan and Ethiopia days emperor Hlaslasa who sponsored the south the first agreement with Joseph Lagu, the 1972 Convention has in Addis Ababa and then the Ethiopian government reached with Sudan an agreement recognized by the two governments, in the scheme of limits established by Mr. Quinn and was famous memorandum was recognized, and formed a special commission for the demarcation of the border and agreed to seek the assistance of foreign expertise until funding and other and identified so that the state which will come the experts of which were specifically (Finland) on the basis that they have experience.
Then what happened after that?
Even (Nasna) did not have the mind because the Ethiopians allow farmers to engage in agriculture, but that the land be under the sovereignty of Sudan and then pay for the use of Sudan as scheduled, including rent, this position was positive from the Sudanese government.
Sudanese farmers?
They are the first government at that time was to prove ownership of the Sudanese territories.
There are armed militias supporting Ethiopian farmers?
These militias supported by the Government of the Territory. I also explained to you they were in the previous rulers and Ethiopia now control a tribe other than those at the border, so the central government turn a blind eye to it.
It is no longer the Sudanese opposition to the presence of Ethiopian land How do you explain it?
No longer Sudanese opposition have an interest in its presence in Ethiopia, in the past there were two problems, one problem Asmara with Addis Ababa, and the problem of southern Sudan with the Sudan, and Ethiopia has accused the government funded Eritreans were also Sudan accuses Ethiopia supported the rebel movements and the SPLM at the time, Emperor Haile Selassie the same on days Nimeiri was called this command (mutual harm policy), this is the spirit that prevailed at the time, we are bleeding and they bleed, so it was Ethiopia refuge for the opposition, now there are no problems between Othoibia nor Eritrea and Sudan and South Sudan, secondly this regime governing Ethiopia now came out of the womb of Khartoum, Sudan, in addition to that is the country's exports of their products, to order it never expects to Ethiopia to embrace the opposition because they have no interest in it.
Go back to the border issue will be resolved when ..?
This issue does not occupy much of our thinking now, our strategic thinking, we do not want to lose Ethiopia because of the border issue, and believe me, this border is not a priority now, not a problem.
Z means Halayib question .. what we are losing Halayib Ashan strategic dimension in Egypt?
No, not understanding well, we do not want to spoil the relationship between us and Ethiopia do not want to get into confrontations with them in now, the relationship we have with Ethiopia is greater than to lose. In my opinion, that if you want to solve any problem between the two countries should be favorable conditions for that matter, any achievement that could happen for the two countries to happen breakthrough to the crisis of the border, this should be and the circumstances are favorable, if we assume that our relationship with Ethiopia worsened what will benefit and to what we will get, Under formatted climate between the two countries.
O Maulana mean what in the solution?
I did not say that, but I say that this problem is old and will continue to exist, but should be agreed in a favorable atmosphere, such as those that were between Haile Selassie and Nimeiri when he was signed on planning (Quinn) If benefited from the right climate and clear the atmosphere between the two countries'm going to get to an agreement, This is a strategic view between the two countries.
Are you optimistic about the tenth round of negotiations between the SPLM concerning the two regions?
Let me tell you that the issue does not come Thus, this issue needs to coordinate and arrange, meaning Is climate processions now or not.
Do you think that now is an appropriate climate for the negotiations on the two regions?
God is always in doubt
What is the source of this uncertainty?
Mbeki, for example, entered into all the issues of Sudan, and this is in my opinion wrong, Mbeki enter itself in the issue of the national dialogue and in the matter of the two regions, as well as Darfur and the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan, is talking about too many things, if the topic for him was the dialogue did not apply in this file It has a two regions is another file, and so on, I think that the development of Sudan's issues as a package is not true, it may have negative effects and implications for the two regions.
And why Mbeki himself cornered in all issues of Sudan?
For him, he wants to expand (Almanddh) has the mandate as well, so the entry in Sudan will raise all issues of its shares on the level of the region, the United Nations and the world.
Mbeki was accused of corruption in his country and resigned because of charges of corruption How do you accept a person who has a concern in his country even comes to replace our problems.
Even President Zuma now has problems, and concern about corruption and the people out there wondering where to built his palace, from what I know I Mbeki that a natural departure came the sense that it has not renewed after his term of presidency.
Km Sudanese investments in Ethiopia?
Billion, Athdothon investors for billions of dollars they own in the Ethiopian market, we are No. 6 in the capital and No. 2 in the size of the investors in Ethiopia?
Africa remains the decision of the Peace and Security Council 539 less than a month almost, not constitute a threat to the government and the system in your opinion?
Why in this decision, you have not read the decision well, I can say that this decision by one thing and that he admitted that the national dialogue be inside Sudan, and talked about a preparatory meeting for the dialogue preparatory, and that is in Addis Ababa only after ninety days offers Mbeki report.
This decision means not stress the system.
Never press it, the resolution said that the meeting, an interview may be for one day or may be for hours and did not say a conference. In my opinion, that if Sadiq al-Mahdi came to Khartoum these parties will end the boycott of the dialogue, there are some politicians have no weight, only sounds.
How do you see the problem of human trafficking between Ethiopia and Sudan?
This is the biggest problem the Sudan faces in all its borders not only Ethiopia borders, east, west and south and the north, you learn how human numbers of Nigerian assets in Sudan now, very much, now Southerners come to us from the south, as well as Eritrea, Chad and all of West Africa, the Great Our problem lies in the open borders, we are our problem Kplad and state that even if we had a foreign presence should Nillth because this means our national security, and is in its course, all private food security and livelihoods and policy aspects, Ethiopia will explode almost in 2050 and will become 200 million, they are looking .. Therefore They go to Sudan, and frankly they do better than the Sudanese workers, I do not want to accuse the Sudanese worker laziness, but they are obedient and work better, even agricultural labor now in Gedaref all Ethiopians. So I think that our relationship with Ethiopia are excellent, we are the two largest in the region so that our relations should be strategically, region by a very large disturbance, you have the problem of southern Sudan and Somalia and what is happening in Yemen.

Source :http://www.assayha.net/play.php?catsmktba=8143

After military clashes: Ethiopian opposition forces inside Sudanese territory

Following the outbreak of the situation between the known Baldmahat Army system Eritrean and a military clashes in the Ethiopian opposition forces unknown real causes only Zhr some websites of refusal This forces from engaging in military scenarios with the Ethiopian regime and the impact of its refusal was blockaded and clash with them to include a patch of engagement large area including inside Sudanese territory. Where it resorted Bolyatea and equipment and asked not to force her to return to Eritrea.
Questions to ask itself whether the Ethiopian opposition armies of Alice goals hit the Ethiopian regime? Why become a reason for the outbreak of war between them and the Mstadhavha?
Did senior opponents of the Ethiopian regime enters to Asmara in the past months in order to carry out military operations against the Ethiopian regime?
Is there a scenario to get rid of the two systems both opponents of acting?
Obtained spaced at some of the bull social networking activists we publish below.
Source : http://www.farajat.net/ar/35370

Will Egypt still get its fair share of Nile water?

The 6,650-km Nile is an “international” river as its water resources are shared by eleven countries, namely Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt. It is generally regarded as the longest river in the world. — Courtesy photo

Sonia Farid

THE Declaration of Principles signed in Khartoum by Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia reopened the unresolved dispute over the sharing of Nile water, and raised once more the thorny issue of the Renaissance Dam.

The declaration aims to set the main principles that would protect the interests of downstream countries, whose share is expected to be threatened by the completion of the Ethiopian dam.

The declaration has been met with mixed reactions. Many question how binding it is on the Ethiopian side, while others see it as a positive step toward ending a crisis that is detrimental to Egypt’s security.

Amr Hamzawi, professor of political science, said the state opting for negotiating to end the standoff is in itself a promising step.

“Establishing this kind of dialogue shows that Egypt respects Ethiopia’s development aspirations as represented by the Renaissance Dam while making sure its own rights are not compromised,” he wrote.

“The declaration also eliminates any possibility of a military conflict between the two countries and instead initiates a stage of cooperation in tandem with Sudan and later other Nile Basin countries as well as foreign parties like the US, the EU, China, and international financial organizations.”

Criticism

However, Hamzawi said there were still reasons for concern. “The state has not been transparent enough about how this declaration can actually save Egypt from the impending danger of losing much of the water it badly needs.

We have not been informed of the core of this declaration and several questions are not answered like the capacity of the new dam’s reservoir as well as the bilateral talks between Sudan and Ethiopia and the way the two countries would guarantee not infringing on Egypt’s rights.”

Despite his concerns, Hamzawi criticized political factions that saw objection to the agreement as a way of expressing opposition to the government.

“Several parties were quick to condemn the agreement without knowing the details and without proposing any alternative solutions to the problem.

Voicing valid objections to some of the regime’s practices is one thing and objecting for the sake of objection is another.”

Hamzawi said opposition forces could still criticize the government while objectively supporting its reasonable steps toward maintaining Egypt’s strategic interests.

Nader Nour Al-Din, professor of irrigation and water resources, sees the declaration as a mere formality that jeopardizes rather than guarantees Egypt’s rights.

According to Nour Al-Din, who said he consulted a renowned international law expert on the matter, Ethiopia is the party that emerged victorious after signing the declaration.

“Through signing the declaration, Egypt is bestowing legitimacy on the Renaissance Dam,” he said. “Now that the three Eastern Nile countries have signed the declaration, all international funding for the dam will resume right away.

This means $5.5 billion from the National Bank of China, $1 billion from Italy and $1 billion from South Korea, in addition to support from the World Bank.”

The declaration, he added, does not include guarantees that Egypt’s share will be maintained, since Ethiopia did not commit to a specific amount of water to reach Egypt following the construction of the dam.

“With this declaration, Ethiopia took everything and Egypt ended up with nothing.” Nour Al-Din said in earlier statements that the World Bank refused to fund the dam because of the harm it would do to Egypt and Sudan, and because of Ethiopia’s history of violating the water rights of its neighbors.

“Ethiopia harmed Kenya by constructing three dams, thus violating an earlier pledge to construct only one dam,” he said.

“This deprived Kenya of huge amounts of water and led to the displacement of 5 million Kenyans.” He says Ethiopia “will betray Egypt and keep all the water.”

Benefits

Hani Raslan, head of the Water Resources Unit at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said the declaration was not binding on any of the parties, but only offered a general framework for future dealings between the signatories. However, he disagrees that the declaration harms Egypt’s interests.

“Nothing in the declaration says that Egypt approves the capacity of the dam’s reservoir since this issue is still being negotiated,” he wrote.

“Also, the declaration is not about Egypt’s share of Nile water but only about the dispute over the dam, which means that there is no infringement on Egypt’s historical right to the Nile and the agreements that regulate it.”

Raslan said the declaration is based on the principles of international law and the UN Charter, and provides political benefits.

“Signing the declaration will improve Egypt’s image on the regional and international levels after the shameful way the Muslim Brotherhood government dealt with the dam issue,” he said.

Raslan was referring to the conference presided over by ousted president Mohamed Morsi and broadcast live without attendees’ knowledge, in which several politicians made derogatory remarks against Ethiopia and suggested hostile ways of dealing with the crisis.

Raslan said the declaration made Ethiopia morally committed before the world to respecting Egypt’s water rights.

“At least, Ethiopia is now acknowledging a set of principles that it had earlier denied.” Water resources expert Ahmed Fawzi refuted claims that signing the declaration means Egypt’s approval of the construction of the Renaissance Dam.

“The declaration makes Ethiopia committed to the report that is to be issued by the international consultative office on the impact of the dam on downstream countries,” he said.

Fawzi was referring to the office that is to be chosen by the Tripartite Committee of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, made up of the declaration’s three signatories, and whose findings are to be respected by the three countries as the declaration stipulates.

“This is the first time Ethiopia signs an official document that recognizes Egypt’s rights, and the first time it doesn’t contest historical agreements that warrant those rights.”

Damage limitation

Political science lecturer Rawia Tawfik said the declaration was a manifestation of “the diplomacy of managing losses.” After Ethiopia’s insistence on going ahead with the construction of the dam, Egypt had no choice but to resort to negotiations, she said.

“The balance of power is now in favor of Ethiopia based on its location as an upstream country that controls 85% of Nile water flowing from the Ethiopian Highlands,” she wrote.

Tawfik said it was important to consider that Ethiopia had since the 1950s been against agreements that guaranteed Egypt’s share of Nile water.

“Ethiopia has always considered those agreements an insult to its national dignity since being the country that provides the Nile with most of its water it was not consulted in any of them,” she wrote.

“Against this backdrop, the declaration seems a step forward.” However, Tawfik said Ethiopia would benefit from this declaration more than Egypt.

“While Ethiopia is seeing its national dream come true, Egypt is only trying to minimize the damage.” — Al Arabiya News

Source: www.saudigazette.com.sa