Washington, January 18 (Darfur24)
US President Donald Trump announced his readiness to mediate between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resolve the long-running dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Nile water-sharing.
In a letter sent Friday to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Trump called for fair and transparent negotiations supported by technical expertise and a strong US role in monitoring and coordinating talks between the parties to reach a lasting agreement.
He said such an approach would ensure “regular and predictable water releases during periods of drought and prolonged dry years for the benefit of Egypt and Sudan, while allowing Ethiopia to generate large quantities of electricity,” noting that some of this power could potentially be sold or supplied to Egypt and Sudan.
Trump emphasized Washington’s commitment to an agreement that safeguards the long-term water needs of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, stressing that “no country in the region should unilaterally control the vital resources of the Nile River in a way that harms its neighbors.”
Copies of the letter were sent to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, and Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Trump said resolving tensions surrounding the GERD was a top priority and expressed hope that the dispute would not escalate into military conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia.
This is not the first time Trump has weighed in on the GERD issue. In July, he sparked controversy during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, where he referenced US involvement in funding the dam’s construction and acknowledged its impact on Egypt, while stating that his administration was working toward a resolution of the crisis.