Water ministers from Nile Basin countries visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) despite Egypt’s protests. Habtamu Itefa, Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy, emphasized that this visit undermined opposition against Ethiopia. Egypt raised concerns about potential escalations in disputes arising from the visit, while Itefa noted the striking differences between misinformation and reality observed by the visitors.
In a recent statement, Habtamu Itefa, the Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy, highlighted that water ministers from Nile Basin countries visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) despite Egypt’s protests against the event. He asserted that this visit helped to counteract efforts aimed at excluding Ethiopia’s involvement in the initiative.
Minister Itefa referenced an extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) held on February 22, 2025, where he actively invited member states to tour the GERD while in Addis Ababa. Conversely, Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, dispatched an official correspondence requesting ministers to decline the invitation from Ethiopia.
Despite Egypt’s attempts to deter them, the other ministers opted to proceed with the visit. Itefa remarked that Ethiopia viewed Egypt’s communication as an instance of “false propaganda” and chose to disregard it.
During the ministerial meeting, Egypt expressed concern that integrating the GERD into the Nile Day program could exacerbate existing disputes and jeopardize regional cooperation. Hani Sewilam emphasized that Ethiopia’s actions risked undermining the unity of the basin states.
Minister Itefa shared that the visit allowed officials to directly observe the dam, providing a stark contrast between prior misinformation and the actual accomplishments of Ethiopia. He noted that, apart from the Tanzanian minister, who had urgent electoral matters to attend, all visiting ministers participated in the GERD tour at a ministerial level.
In summary, the visit by Nile Basin water ministers to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam represents a significant diplomatic endeavor amid ongoing tensions, particularly with Egypt’s objections. Habtamu Itefa’s remarks underscore Ethiopia’s commitment to transparency and cooperation within the basin, despite challenges posed by misinformation and political disputes. The situation reflects the complexities of regional diplomacy surrounding shared water resources.
Original Source: addisstandard.com
