"Ethiopia Slams Trump’s Claims on Nile Dam Funding: 'False and Destructive!'"
🌊 A TIDAL WAVE OF CONTROVERSY! 🌊
An Ethiopian official has fiercely denied former President Donald Trump's assertion that the United States helped finance Ethiopia's monumental Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), calling his claims "false" and "destructive."
Last week, Trump stirred the pot by stating that the controversial dam was built "with United States money, largely," igniting a firestorm of reactions.
💧 A SOURCE OF PRIDE:
The Gerd, Africa's largest hydroelectric plant, has been a point of national pride for Ethiopians throughout its 14-year construction. Ethiopian authorities have consistently maintained that the dam was funded solely by the government and contributions from the Ethiopian people.
However, the dam has sparked outrage in Egypt and Sudan, which lie upstream on the River Nile and fear that the project could drastically reduce the water flow into their countries.
📢 ETHIOPIA RESPONDS:
On Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Coordination Office, dismissed Trump's remarks, asserting that the dam was built "without any foreign aid." She emphasized the need for the government to respond to Trump's claims with "far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures."
Despite the Gerd Coordination Office's technically independent status, some Ethiopians have raised eyebrows about how much insight it has into any potential agreements between the Ethiopian government and the US.
🤔 A RECURRING THEME:
This isn’t the first time Trump has claimed US involvement in the Gerd. Just last month, he took to his Truth Social platform to label the dam as "stupidly financed by the United States of America," arguing that it "substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River."
Trump's comments echo the concerns of Egypt and Sudan, who fear the megadam will disrupt their vital water supply from the Nile.
🏗️ A MONUMENTAL PROJECT:
Stretching over a mile long and standing 145 meters high, the Gerd is located on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia's northern highlands, where 85% of the Nile's waters originate. Ethiopia aims to harness the dam's power to generate desperately needed electricity, as approximately 60% of its population currently lacks access to reliable power.
💰 A COMMUNITY EFFORT:
Initially projected to be completed within six years with a budget of $4 billion (£2.9 billion), the Gerd has faced significant delays and budget overruns. Nevertheless, the Ethiopian government has successfully mobilized public support, selling bonds, securing salary deductions from employees, and receiving generous donations from the Ethiopian diaspora.
In the year leading up to July 7, the Gerd Coordination Office reported that 1.7 billion birr (approximately $12.3 million; £9.1 million) had been raised from the public, showcasing the unwavering commitment of the Ethiopian people to this monumental project.
🌍 A TENSE SITUATION:
As the Gerd continues to generate electricity—having officially been completed earlier this month—the tensions with Egypt and Sudan remain palpable. With Trump's comments adding fuel to the fire, the situation surrounding the Nile dam is far from resolved.
