The 6th Nile Basin Development Forum (NBDF) kicked off today with the theme ‘rethinking regional investments in the Nile Basin: Water, Energy, Food, Environment & Climate Change.’
Hosted by Ethiopia, the Forum was officially launched by Dr Abraha Adugna, State Minister for Water, Irrigation, and Energy.
It brought together multi-stakeholders from within and out of the Nile Basin including Ministers in charge of Water Affairs and other government officials in Nile Basin countries.
Dr Abraha on the occasion reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to shared vision of ‘achieving sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilization of and benefit from the common Nile Basin water resources.’
The NBDF aspires to build shared understanding on the status of the river and related resources and search for common ground on the solutions for addressing the water security challenges facing the Nile Basin countries.
Ethiopia alongside its fellow Nile Basin countries, also celebrated today the 22nd annual Nile Day hosted by Uganda.
Dr Seleshi Bekele, Minister for Water, Irrigation and Energy gave a Key note address on trans-boundary investments in the eastern Nile region.
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The New York Tristate Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) support and advocacy group launched yesterday.
Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr. Seleshi Bekele, attended the launch of the group which consists of community and civil society leaders, academics and professionals.
According to the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy, construction of GERD has reached 78.3% and it is expected to be completed up to 82% until the upcoming rainy season.
The dam is set to be operational by 2023 as per the reschedule.
GERD is a hydroelectric dam project that is being built in Ethiopia to ensure the country’s energy security, reduce poverty and meet the needs of its people.
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Recently we noted a post on GERD by the Embassy of Egypt in Washington D.C that is intended to misinform and mislead the international community. The following brief fact sheet is intended to provide factual information and to put the records straight. Egypt’s protracted campaign of misinformation will not be helpful to the success of the trilateral negotiation and will erode the trust built among the three countries of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan.
Background
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a hydropower dam that Ethiopia is constructing on the Abbay/Blue Nile River. Ethiopia generates 86% of the Nile flow with a total average annual flow of 77 billion cubic meters. For Ethiopia accessing and utilizing its water resources is not a matter of choice, but an imperative of continued existence. The Nile is a source of livelihood for the Ethiopian population of more than110 million people. The purpose of the GERD is lifting millions of people out of poverty and provide access to electricity to more than 60 million Ethiopians and provide affordable electricity to the service, industrial and agriculture economic sectors. The very site of GERD, formerly known as Border Dam, was studied in the 1960’s by USBR and in the 1990’s by a French consultant BCEOM. With its 5,150 MW installed power generation capacity, GERDP will increase Ethiopian Hydroelectric power generation by 15,692 GWh/year on average. GERDP represents a sustainable socio-economic project for Ethiopia: replacing fossil fuels and reducing CO2 emissions, it will significantly contribute to the economic and social development of Ethiopia.
Benefits of GERD
The GERD will store 74 BMC and this stored water will be a resource that will benefit all the three countries of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia during drought periods. The GERD will also offer regulated flow which will help the downstream countries to better manage their respective reservoirs.
The GERD will reduce negative impacts of climate change such as recurrent floods. The GERD will further capture 90 percent of the sediment protecting irrigation canals and equipment from damages caused by sedimentation.
Furthermore, the GERD will improve the efficiency of dams and water use optimization in the downstream. Combined with more regular flows, Sudan hydropower dams energy generation will be uplifted by more than 2,657 GWh/year due to the GERD regulation of flow.
The GERD will regulate the flows of the Blue Nile and this will support flows arriving at the High Aswan Dam (HAD) of Egypt and Risk of HAD overtopping will be eliminated. With GERD operating upstream, average annual HAD evaporation losses will be tremendously reduced. Due to regulated and increased flows a longer period of navigation on the Nile River will be possible.
Despite these glaring facts, Egyptian officials are obsessed with disseminating baseless information that the filling and operation of the dam will have significant economic, environmental and social repercussions.
Fallacy 1:“a decrease of only 1 bcm of water could eliminate more than one million jobs and $1.8 billion in economic production annually in all economic sectors.”
The assertion that one billion cubic meter reduction of flow in the Nile directly translates to loss of agricultural land and economic gains in Egypt is a fundamentally flawed and misleading concept. The High Aswan Dam is a reservoir with a capacity of 162 billion cubic meter water, built to ensure sustainable water provision and overcome water shortage during low flow in the river. HAD is a multiyear reservoir that can accommodate very large annual flow variability of (48.9bcm – 131bcm) at Aswan site. The main function of HAD is to regulate this variability. A decrease of 1 BCM directly translates in to loss of jobs and economic production is unreasonable.
Fallacy 2: ”Ethiopia enjoys multiple renewable water resources, and an abundant 8100 cubic meters per capita (cm/pc) of fresh water annually”.
Ethiopia’s water resource is 123BCM per year and the current per capita water availability is 1069 cubic meters per capita per year. In 60% of the country the per capita water availability is in the order of only 300 cubic meter per capita. It is puzzling why such misleading information is propagated by Egypt.
According to the world-bank and FAO aqua-stat recent global datasets, the total freshwater withdrawal of Egypt is 4100 cubic meter/per capita, which is provided from Ethiopia’s internally generated freshwater sources through the Nile River and storage of HAD. Whereas Ethiopia’s total freshwater withdrawal is only 6.4cubic meter /per capita.
Fallacy 3:” Egypt is highly efficient in using its water,”
Facts on the ground depict differently. Egypt’s water use is wasteful and uses backward irrigation technology in addition to growing water intensive crops. Agriculture is practiced in desert areas wasting water through evaporation and seepage. A study by Walaa and Ahmed, 2019 from Zagazig University, Egypt concluded that substantial water can be saved(up to 40BCM) if Egypt made improvements to its irrigation practice.
Fallacy 4:“Over ten years of faltering negotiations, Ethiopia refused to allow any impartial parties to attend the talks, even as silent observers”.
Transboundary rivers negotiations take time and Ethiopia believes progress has been achieved during the last decade our trilateral negotiations can not be characterized as faltering. The Declaration of Principles signed by the leaders of the three countries in 2015 is an achievement negotiated by the three countries alone. Ethiopia accepted the participation of the United States and the World Bank as observers and participated in the negotiations. Ethiopia is currently participating in the AU led negotiations. The US led negotiation process, subsequent statements by the relevant parties are on the record and can be referred to verify the facts. The baseless accusation of Egypt stands contrary to the good faith and proactive participation of Ethiopia in the trilateral negotiations.
Fallacy 5:“Ethiopia commenced the construction of the GERD unilaterally in 2011 without informing or consulting with Egypt or Sudan in advance– a breach of its obligations under international laws.”
Recognizing the transboundary nature of the River, Ethiopia has gone beyond its due diligence under international law. Unprecedented in the Nile Basin, where unilateralism is a norm by downstream countries, Ethiopia called for cooperation and from the very beginning Ethiopia has been open, transparent and cooperative. It has initiated the tripartite negotiations and provided GERD design and study documents to Egypt and Sudan. An International Panel of Experts in which Egypt and Sudan participated reviewed all relevant project documents, made field visits to the project site and submitted its final report to the three countries in May 2013. Whereas, the two downstream countries have built numerous hydraulic infrastructure over the past decades without informing the Nile riparian countries, foreclosing their future development by so doing, Egypt’s false and unwarranted accusation is misleading.
Egypt and Sudan want to monopolize the entire Nile water and impose a 1959 colonial era treaty that zeros the water share of upstream countries. Egypt and Sudan insistence on maintaining unjust colonial based treaties is the overarching impediment to the equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile waters. Such kind of Sudano-Egypt’s treaty defeats all forms of international transboundary water laws and a clear intransigence.
Fallacy 6:“Ethiopia has not provided any socio-economic and environmental impact studies of the dam on downstream countries “
The fallacy of this accusation can simply be verified by referring to the report of the International Panel of Experts (IPoE). Ethiopia has provided environment and social impact studies of the direct impact zone, an initial transboundary environment impact study and a hydrological simulation study that were duly reviewed by the IPoE.
Fallacy 7: “Even though the African Union called for a binding agreement on the GERD filling and operation, Ethiopia announced that it is not seeking a binding agreement,”
It is obvious any document signed by and among sovereign states is binding. The GERD guidelines and rules on the first filling and annual operation are not exception to this. However, the GERD rules will have a character suitable for the nature of dam operation as provided under the DoP. Notwithstanding, Egypt continues to accuse Ethiopia of not willing to conclude a binding deal. The rational of this accusation is the demands of Egypt and Sudan to make Ethiopia conclude an agreement that forecloses water development upstream of the GERD.
Ethiopia proposed a workable option to address the stalemate. A proposal to agree on the first filling and to continue dealing with issues of operation taking the remining five years simultaneous with the filling of the GERD. However, the downstream countries refused to accept this proposal due to their futile attempt to trap Ethiopia to accept the unfair status-quo.
Ethiopia is committed to the trilateral negotiation, which it believes can come to a successful completion given the good faith engagement of the countries. Unfortunately, in the past seven months of negotiation only, the AU led process is interrupted seven times due to a coordinate work of Egypt and Sudan. In 2018, Egypt declined to sign a filling and operation agreement developed by the National Independent Scientific Research Group, composed of 15 scientists from the three countries, and discontinued the negotiation for a period of 11 months. Anybody interested can check the chronology and conduct of all meetings in the last several years and all delays in the progress of the negotiation is attributed to Egypt and Sudan.
Fallacy 9: “Even in the worst prolonged droughts, Ethiopia was guaranteed that it would produce no less than 75-80% of the GERD’s actual hydropower production capacity.”
It is obvious that it is not possible to generate 75-80% of GERD hydropower potential with lower head and low flow conditions. Egypt’s insistence to operate GERD at a low head combined with reduced drought period flow, energy generation brings GERD down to 40%. It is not wise to mislead the international community by fabricating unsubstantiated figures.
Fallacy 10: “……millions of lives will be at “great risk” if Ethiopia unilaterally fills and operates the GERD without reaching an agreement”.
This repeated allegation has never been substantiated on how filing and operating GERD will cause great risk. Ethiopia has never accepted an undertaking to secure the permission or agreement of Egypt and Sudan when filling the GERD. However, Egypt and Sudan continue contesting the filling of the GERD, from the position of self-claimed and unjust privilege, contrary to what is provided in the DOP with regards to filling and operation of GERD.
Egypt and Sudan continue to contest the first-year filling of the GERD, despite the fact that they were provided with relevant information well before the commencement of the filling. The two countries knew the time and volume of the water to be retained. Despite the continued negative campaign of Egypt, the dam construction will continue as planned and its filling and operation will be conducted in compliance with accepted principles of equitable and reasonable utilization and causing no significant harm and as per the principles enshrined in the DoP.
Let not insult the intellect of the world, and be faithful for principles and acceptable norms and standards!
Embassy of Ethiopia
Washington, D.C
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The ‘Dine for Ethiopia’ program, an initiative aimed at mobilizing funds for Wonchi, Gorgora and Koysha projects, will be hosted today.
The initiative aims to raise 3 billion birr for the three projects that would be executed in Oromia, Amhara and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) regional states.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister thanked those who took part in organizing a photograph exhibition in connection with the program which will be hosted today.
“As we mark the long awaited ‘Dine for Ethiopia’ today, my appreciation to those involved in showcasing the attributes of the three sites in an exhibition,” he said.
“Our diversity, cultural, historical and natural assets are the untapped potential to lift our nation to prosperity,” he added.
The three projects are expected to create jobs for the local communities, drive tourism and create service economies.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia condemns in the strongest possible terms the escalation and provocative behavior of the Government of the Sudan regarding the boundary issue between Ethiopia and the Sudan. Ethiopia believes that any conflict between our two countries would only result in a colossal collateral damage and jeopardizes the well-being of the two nations. Therefore, the Ethiopian government strongly believes that the conflict being trumpeted by the Sudanese government’s military wing could only serve the interests of a third party at the expense of the Sudanese people.
It is to be noted that the two governments have sufficient mechanisms to deal with any claims and counterclaims of the border or any territorial claims. However, the Sudanese National Army violated the basic principles of international law and peaceful settlements of disputes by unceremoniously invading Ethiopia in early November 2020. In doing so, Sudan has violated the bilateral boundary agreements, which stipulate non-displacement of nationals of either nation from their farms jointly registered by the two Governments, the status quo of which shall be maintained until the disposition of the case by an agreement.
The Sudanese side has also overturned and undermined the efforts of the joint boundary committees that have been making tireless efforts to finalize the re-demarcation process of the common boundary. Contrary to the spirit of friendship and cooperation existing between our two brotherly countries, the Sudanese Army looted properties, burned camps, attacked and displaced thousands of Ethiopians and controlled vacated Ethiopian Military Camps.
What is more deplorable is, in an apparent misrepresentation of the facts on the ground, Sudan is deliberately engaged in misinformation campaigns against Ethiopia by accusing the victim as an aggressor, evading accountability by shifting blame and camouflaging its belligerence and continue its provocation in an attempt to control more lands.
Amidst of all these escalatory and provocative behaviour of the Sudan, Ethiopia has shown a great deal of patience, remained restrained from exercising its legitimate right of self-defence and time and again expressed its commitment to a peaceful settlement of differences regarding the boundary through existing bilateral agreements and joint border mechanisms. What is needed is a political will of the two governments, which would enable them reach at an amicable solution.
Ethiopia firmly believes in the long standing fraternal relations between the people of Ethiopia and Sudan regardless of the nature of their respective governments. The attempt being made by the Sudanese Army to push the friendly peoples of Ethiopia and Sudan to unwarranted war is a serious blunder that will undermine their peace, stability and development of the two nations in particular and the region in general.
Ethiopia while reiterating its commitment for a peaceful settlement of the boundary issue, once again calls upon the Government of the Sudan to reverse the aggression, desist from provocation and resort to a peaceful settlement of the boundary issue.
Therefore, the Ethiopian government would like to call upon the people of the Sudan to check on its government from serving a third party interest which only would result in the determent of the two nations. Furthermore, Ethiopia calls upon brotherly African countries to advice the Sudanese government to finalize the border issues through available mechanisms in peaceful manner.
The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia also thanks the people of Ethiopia for showing maximum patience and profound understanding.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Sean Jones, together with U.S. Embassy team, visited the city of Mekelle, Tigray regional state last Monday.
He meet with the deputy of the interim regional administration of Tigray, the regional emergency coordination center, other local and federal authorities, and USAID implementing partners distributing emergency food and support to Ethiopians in need.
The visit reinforced U.S. support to address the humanitarian and governance challenges associated with the law enforcement operation in the regional state.
The U.S. Embassy team underscored the United States’ continued commitment to working together with all partners to identify solutions for rapidly scaling up humanitarian assistance to reach as many affected communities as possible.
The United States has been the largest donor-provider of assistance to the Tigray region for three decades, supporting efforts to strengthen food security and reduce poverty.
In 2021, the U.S. government is investing over $100 million in humanitarian and development assistance in Tigray, including support for refugees and internally displaced people, emergency food assistance, safe drinking water, shelter, protection, and hygiene supplies.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has held discussion over the phone with Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
In a tweet, PM Abiy thanked Mark Rutte “for a good call discussing our bilateral relations and regional peace and security issues.”
“Ethiopia’s long standing relationship with the Netherlands through diplomacy, trade and investments is a strong basis for further cooperation,” he added.
No country in the world would have tolerated the provocation and heinous actions of the TPLF says Ambassador Arega in defence of the response of Ethiopia to crisis in Tigray
Ethiopia’s envoy to the USA Ambassador Fitsum Arega says that amidst multiple challenges, the country is waxing strong. Speaking in an exclusive zoom interview with PAV, Ambassador Arega says doomsday scenarios painted about his country in some media circles do not reflect the realities on the ground.
Defending the response of Prime Minister Abiy’s government to the crisis in Tigray, Ambassador Arega says that no country in the world would have tolerated the provocation and heinous actions of the TPLF. Ambassador Arega laments the humanitarian challenge that the war has brought but is quick to say his government is doing its level best and working in collaboration with international partners to ensure that aid is brought to the people in need and normalcy returns to the region.
On the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ambassador Arega said it is a public and not a government project with some five billion dollars fully funded by Ethiopians in the country and the Diaspora in the form of donations and bonds matched by the government. Ambassador Arega said his country has been forthcoming in sharing all progress and developments on the construction of the dam with Sudan and Egypt and any scepticism is uncalled for.
While relations between the USA and Ethiopia may have been ruffled due to bias in favour of Egypt by the previous administration, Ambassador Arega said he is optimistic on prospects of stronger bonds of cooperation with the Biden administration.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Ambassador Arega said his Embassy remains open and he has been working hand in glove with the dynamic Ethiopian diaspora to support recovery efforts back home. In the interview which also covers the upcoming elections, investment opportunities, and changes in the country since Prime Minister Abiy took office, Ambassador Arega shared reassuring perspectives on his country. Prime Minister Abiy has inspired millions since he came to office and reforms are still ongoing, Ambassador Arega said.
Pan African Visions: May we start with how Ethiopia is doing politically, economically and socially?
Ambassador Arega: Ethiopia has been doing very well before COVID-19 in terms of economic growth but there were serious concerns on political inclusion. Since the pandemic, Ethiopia is one of the least affected. So far more than 2 million people got tested of which 147,000 tested positive and fortunately 129,000 recovered with some 16,700 active cases. It is however sad that around 2,200 people died.
Due to the international lockdowns, trade disruptions, logistics and tourism challenges, the economy has been affected. Since Ethiopia’s economy is predominantly agricultural and the rural areas are less affected, our economic performance is still one of the strongest in Africa; last year, ending June 30, 2020 the GDP growth was 6.1%.
In terms of political stability, for over four years prior to Prime Minister Abiy assumed power there was mounting public pressure for change. As a result Prime Minister Abiy was elected as chairman of the governing party and the Prime Minister. Following his acceptance speech, hope sweep throughout the country, and in the region.
In the first few days the Prime Minister announced forgiveness, peace and unity as his central pillars for his reforms. As part of the reforms political prisoners were released, politicians and media in exile were invited into the country, state of emergency was lifted, banned media were allowed, judicial and security institutions were declared independent and the healing process was going very well with the exception of some challenges in between and the major road block coming from the TPLF, which led to the November 4, 2020 provocation and act of treason committed on the Northern command of the Federal Army.
Pan African Visions: We will get to the specifics of the conflict in a moment but let’s talk about your current functions. You have been Ambassador for a couple of years now, what is the state of ties between Washington and Addis Ababa?
Ambassador Arega: The diplomatic relations have been essentially old, to be exact one hundred and seventeen years, and last year was one of the challenging years due to President Trump’s invitation for the three countries to negotiate on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. That did not work out the way we all wanted. It was not impartial; unacceptable proposal was coming from Egypt that was also supported by the then U.S. Administration. We all welcomed Washington as an observer, but the Treasury Department went on influencing in favour of Egypt. Except this incident our relation has been in good terms. Now, the relations are getting much better.
Bias from the Trump administration in support of Egypt did not help relations between the USA and Ethiopia says Ambassador Arega
Pan African Visions: Last year, the US suspended some aid to your country. Now, with a new administration, what efforts are being made to make sure these measures are lifted?
Ambassador Arega: The new administration is just taking shape. They have not even appointed some members of the administration. We have started contacting the relevant institutions and we are optimist that things will get better. High-level contacts have been made. We’ll be working hard to improve our relations. We are optimist that the assistance suspended on the basis of Ethiopia’s Dam will be released and also trade and investment between the two countries will increase.
Pan African Visions: The main development in the country is the conflict in the Tigray region. What is the situation there at the moment and can you give us a little background as to how things evolved to where they are today?
Ambassador Arega: As a background, when Prime Minister Abiy started sweeping political reform both in terms of widening the political space, welcoming opposition parties as well as party level reforms and when introducing economic reforms with the aim of macroeconomic stability and realigning the focus from public led to private sector led, he faced resistance from the TPLF party, the governing party of the Tigray region which directly and indirectly led the country for 27 years. The resistance grew when the election was postponed due to covid-19 reason, as per the constitution.
However, PM Abiy tried his best to peacefully resolve the tensions through dialogue, sending elders and community leaders to the Tigray region. In the meantime, ethnically and religious motivated displacements and killings were observed in different parts of the country. Then on November 4, 2020 Tigray regional forces and some federal army members of Tigrean origin the defected from the federal army launched a coordinated attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian Army in many military bases while they were not expecting at all. They then looted the command’s military equipment, artillery, detained and killed many in horrific situation. They admitted on their media saying they took thunder like action as pre-emptive attack.
The Ethiopian government had no option but to counter and launch a low enforcement operation. This is unacceptable act that no country on earth tolerates. So, the attack was heinous crime and we believe the international community would understand the situation.
You can compare what happened in the Washington insurrection, but this is more than that. It is a treasonous act. That’s how it evolved. During the law-enforcement operation, it took three weeks to control the capital of the Region (Mekelle) and after that, the operation was conducted to capture the fugitives, to bring them to justice.
There were close to 1.6 million people in the safety-net program that needed food aid on a regular basis before the conflict. An additional 900,000 people were added to this and after the conflict it became 2.5 million people. The federal government and the newly established provisional government in the Tigray have been partnering with international agencies to provide food and medicine to the needy.
When the TPLF forces flee away they dismantled infrastructure like bridges, telecom, power, airports etc so that the government forces won’t advance.
Now, the government is tasked with maintaining all these on top of the relief and rehabilitation activities and to date telecom and power has been restored in many cities and villages; airports have been maintained, temporary bridges have been installed so that humanitarian work can continue. There has been misinformation regarding the humanitarian activities, and this is not fair. We believe the truth will prevail.
Pan African Visions: To push back on what you described as negative news, Prime Minister Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize and opinions have been divided. What did his government do to peacefully resolve this conflict before taking on a full-scale battle?
Ambassador Arega: it is unwise to think a Prime Minister who won a Nobel Peace Prize would not defend its country when an act of treason is committed; this is unacceptable. We can compare this with Washington when Capitol Hill was swamped by some violent demonstrators breaking the building, looting or destroying document. This was insurrection. As a result, impeachment law was invoked, perpetrators were brought to justice and the process is still continuing. What TPLF has done is more than that.
Pan African Visions: And what is your response to human rights groups and others who think in the course of trying to resolve the crisis there has been a heavy toll on innocent civilians?
Ambassador Arega: First of all, the government has made many attempts to avoid the confrontation, by sending elders, community leaders, etc. When that didn’t work after the attack the countering law enforcement operation was conducted with at most care, with calls to surrender in between the operations, to give the TPLF wanted fugitives an opportunity and minimize casualty.
There are human rights groups that escalated estimates of the casualties, refugees to Sudan, internally displaced people, people who need aid. They speculate or report based on unfounded, unconfirmed, unverified or anonymous sources.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission investigated Mai-Kadra, where hundreds of people were massacred while the village was under the effective administration of the TPLF. This is crime against humanity. We are open for investigation and there are also visits going on by various groups.
Since Prime Minister Abiy came to power, he has inspired millions and reforms are still alive, says Ambassador Arega
Pan African Visions: Prime Minister Abiy came to power with a reform-minded agenda. What will you say has changed in Ethiopia under his leadership?
Ambassador Arega: Since he came to power, he inspired millions and reforms are still alive. In terms of political space, now I do not know any opposition that is in exile. This was unthinkable in the past. In terms of the economy, the PM introduced what we call Home-Grown Economic Reform programme which has the agenda of sustaining the economy by way of empowering the private sector.
Improving the macroeconomic imbalances through dept management and restructuring, privatization of state-owned enterprises, including telecom, sugar industries, etc.
The major challenge so far and going forward is the impact of COVID-19 in the economy. When you talk about tourism, import-export, mining, and other industries, unless the ban on international travel is lifted, it will continue to be challenging.
So, we are focusing on agriculture and other resilient sectors. Ethiopian Airlines has been adjusting and is doing its best in COVID-19 related cargo operations. The airline has been instrumental in distributing PPEs to many African countries.
Pan African Visions: With regards to the election that will be coming up later in the year, how equipped and strong are the institutions in Ethiopia to ensure that there will be free, fair, and acceptable to all the parties?
Ambassador Arega: TheEthiopian Election Board, the main body established to conduct election and other institutions with judicial and executive power have gone through reforms and training with the aim of conducting free, fair and acceptable election. The election is scheduled for June 5, 2021 and the preparations so far as expressed by some members of the opposition parties is encouraging.
Pan African Visions: The construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam has created a lot of tensions with neighbouring countries like Egypt and Sudan. May we know why your country attaches so much importance to the project?
Ambassador Arega: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is fully financed by Ethiopians, no loan or grant from overseas. About 5 billion US dollars have been raised by Ethiopians at home and in the Diaspora and matched by the government. We have done all the necessary studies and executed accordingly through professional support. We also involved international panel of experts to advise the three countries on their best scenarios. We also shared all required information to Sudan and Egypt.
Ethiopia is willing to negotiate in good faith with the objective of win-win cooperation. We are saying let us negotiate on the basis of the Declaration of Principles signed by the leaders of the three countries in December 2015. Therefore, the negotiation should be on the filling of the dam and the operation. However, Egypt wants to focus on water allocation with the hope to maintain what they call the “historical water rights”.
With regards to the water allocation, we have another platform, the Nile Basin Initiative which includes all the countries of the Nile. Ethiopia cannot bring the agenda of Nile Basin Initiative to the tripartite negotiation.
Ethiopia is contributing 86% to the Nile but utilizing close to zero. The Grand Renaissance Dam is not a water-consuming project. It is for generating electric power, for generation the water needs to hit the turbines and flow to downstream countries, Sudan and Egypt.
Ethiopia is more than ready to negotiate in good faith. We believe the best way to reach an agreement is to refer it to the scientific experts of the three countries. The issue is technical, and it is important not to fix technical issues by politicians, which is the case now. What should dictate us is the fact on the ground, the availability of enough water. This was the case last year and our first filling did not harm anyone in the downstream.
Ambassador Arega has been working hard with the diaspora to complement development efforts in Ethiopia.
Pan African Visions: To American and other investors out there who are curious about Ethiopia, what opportunities are available today and how is the investment climate?
Ambassador Arega: At present, the main challenge to attract investment in any country is COVID-19, though there are some exceptional sectors like ICT where it is even more attractive during this time.
In addition to the ICT sector Ethiopia is promoting privatization of Telecom and other state-owned enterprises, investment in the health sector, mining, infrastructure such as power, and post COVID-19 in many other sectors including manufacturing and agriculture.
We have recently improved our investment law and ease of doing business by introducing single-window platform for customs clearance, import-export facilitation, etc.
Pan African Visions: As we wrap this interview, maybe we ask you how things are at the Embassy. Is the Embassy open and are the borders of your country open?
Ambassador Arega: Yes, our Embassy has been open throughout COVID-19 practicing the CDC guidelines. We have consulates in Los Angeles and Minnesota. In addition to this, we commenced online services; we have online visa, online power of attorney and passport renewal services. Yes, our boarders are open and welcoming people as long as they have a negative COVID-19 test result and practice the guidelines.
We have been also mobilizing virtually the Diaspora Community. We had more than 100 virtual meetings with these groups in 41 states. We have raised useful resources both in kind and in cash through banks, on line platforms like GoFundMe. Some of the Diasporas have been active on trade and investment. They also assisted in the advocacy of the GERD and other issues that concern the US.
The government of Ethiopia has called for the members of the Diaspora to enhance their commitment to contribute more on trade and investment, and counter misinformation.
https://ethiopianembassy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Amb-Interview16-1.jpg265478Embassy Content Editorhttps://ethiopianembassy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LOGO-embassy2.pngEmbassy Content Editor2021-02-17 10:05:002021-02-17 15:25:08ETHIOPIA IS WAXING STRONG IN THE FACE OF MULTIPLE CHALLENGES-AMBASSADORS AREGA (BY AJONG MBAPNDAH L.) (February 16, 2021)
