Transcript of His Excellency Dr. Eng. Seleshi Bekele Awlachew’s speech to 8816th meeting of UNSC, Thursday, 8 July 2021, New York, NY

Please accept my best wishes, Sir, as you steer the work of the Security Council for the month of July. I wish to extend my respectful greetings to the members of the Security Council and my heartfelt greetings to my brother Minister Selim and my sister Minister Al Mahadi. I recognize and thank Ms. Inger Andersen and Special Envoy Onanga-Anyanga for their participation. I also thank the representative of the African Union (AU) Chairperson for addressing this meeting. At this meeting and deliberation of the Security Council, where a hydroelectric dam is under scrutiny in an unprecedented manner, I am not sure if I am not the first water minister to address the Security Council. Ethiopia believes this is an unfitting use of the time and resources of the Security Council to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Nevertheless, it is an honor for me to speak before this organ to voice the concerns and just causes of my country, Ethiopia.

A year ago, on 29 June 2020, under your presidency, Sir, Council members encouraged Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan to continue negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues and expressed support for the African Union-led process to facilitate further talks (see S/2020/636). Ethiopia took part in the negotiation with renewed commitment and good faith to reach a mutually acceptable, negotiated outcome under the auspices of the African Union.

I would like to pause to express special recognition and thanks to the Republic of South Africa for effectively facilitating the negotiation until the end of its African Union chairmanship in February 2021. Similarly, Ethiopia commends and stands with the Democratic Republic of Congo, current Chairperson of the African Union, for its relentless effort under trying circumstances, including the repeated disruption of the negotiations.

We are dealing with a hydroelectric dam project, which is not the first of its kind in Africa or in the world. We are building a reservoir to store water that will generate electricity by hitting turbines. For the Council’s information, the GERD reservoir is two and half times smaller than that of the Aswan Dam in Egypt. Perhaps what makes the GERD distinctive as compared to other projects is the extent of hope and aspiration it generated for 65 million Ethiopians who have no access to electricity. It is also unique because the construction of this $5 billion dam is financed by the blood, tears and sweat of ordinary Ethiopians. The GERD is the right dam built at the right place for the betterment of people in the broader region.

Our unfortunate inability to utilize the Nile River so far is deeply embedded in the psychology of our people. Two famous Ethiopian proverbs underscore that point. Roughly, they translate as “the irony of the tribulations of a poor man who stood in the middle of a river and lamented about experiencing extreme thirst”. To change that generational lament, we have nowhere else to look but the Abbay or Nile basins, in which two thirds of Ethiopia’s water resources are found. In this mighty river, which we share with our neighbours, our people saw hope to extricate themselves from darkness and march towards it by building the GERD.

The dam bears the fingerprints of Ethiopia’s farmers, pastoralists, daily laborers, students, businesswomen and men and the diaspora throughout the world who eke out a living in extremely difficult circumstances. In equal, if not exceeding, terms, Ethiopians have best wishes and unneighborly concern for their compatriots in Egypt and the Sudan. We have every intention to live together in peace and cooperate for our mutual benefit. The GERD demonstrates that core principle of collective well-being and prosperity. That is why the GERD is one of the regional integration projects under the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

Africa, the cradle of humankind, is currently the youngest continent in the world. Africa is set to reap its demographic dividend by investing in its youth. Similarly, 70 percent of Ethiopia’s population is under the age of 30. More than 100,000 Ethiopians graduate from higher education every year. Moreover, over 30 million Ethiopians are currently in school at various levels of education. Catering to the needs of that growing population is an imperative and existential matter for my county.

The lives of Ethiopians who languish in the Sahara Desert attempting to cross into Europe; the migrants in the Middle East who sacrifice their youth to bring about a better day for their families; the young boys and girls in migrant prisons in Africa and beyond; the bare-footed migrants that one sees returning to their homeland in mass deportations from the Middle East — they all deserve a dignified life. The GERD is a people’s project and our humble attempt to realize that dream. Against all odds, we chose to act, and act in spite of the arduous obstacles we faced. Instead of becoming enmired in those challenges, we struggled to prevail. Little by little, we are overcoming.

Unfortunately, we are here because Egypt and, most recently the Sudan, expressed its opposition to this hydroelectric dam. It is important to note that our two neighbors have large and small dams and canals they constructed with absolute disregard for the rights of other riparian countries and rejecting Ethiopia’s repeated pleas for consultation. After a series of initiatives to address the concerns of our neighbors in good faith, we are compelled to conclude that their objection is not as such directed at the GERD, but rather to stop any water use by Ethiopia.

The fact of the matter is that we have no viable alternative. Unlike Egypt and the Sudan, Ethiopia has no considerable ground-water reserves. We also do not have seawater to desalinate. Nearly 70 per cent of my country’s water is in the Nile basin. Even if we wanted to, even if we tried, we cannot avoid utilizing the Nile River.

In fact, constructing dams is only part of our focus. Our main objective is to maximize our scarce water resources by rehabilitating nature and preventing further depletion through our Green Legacy Initiative — a prominent initiative of my Prime Minister, Mr. Abiy Ahmed. With an overall goal of planting 20 billion trees in five years’ time, we planted 10 billion trees in past two years. This initiative, which also consists of seedling-sharing outreach with our neighbours, is part of the Green Belt Initiative of the African Union. We call upon Egypt and the Sudan to join this afforestation programme, which improves resilience and increases water availability.

Ethiopia believes that an agreement is within reach, given the necessary political will and the commitment to negotiate in good faith. We have already reached an understanding on a considerable number of the issues. The African Union is seized of the matter and is ably facilitating our negotiations, which is why it is regrettable that our sisterly countries opted to bring the matter to the Security Council.

I will not drag Council members into a discussion of issues despite my usual disposition to explain technical details on dams and hydrology. However, I want us to truly appreciate the subject matter we are compelled to discuss, and we are speaking of a hydroelectric dam.

For the first time since its establishment, the Security Council is being asked to pronounce itself on a water development project. The Security Council is a political and security organ. It is unhelpful and misguided to present to this global security body an issue that requires a hydrotechnical solution.

It must also be clear that the underlying problem for the differences among the three countries — Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan — is the quest to preserve the colonial and monopolistic status quo over the Nile. The approach of trying to solve problems using the mindset that created them is what blocks our consensus on the GERD.

The Security Council is faced with the question of determining whether or not Ethiopians have the right to utilize the Nile River. On behalf of all Ethiopians, I implore our friends in the wider international community to answer this question: do Ethiopians have the right to drink from the Nile?

As a point of information, allow me to share with the Council the most recent status of the African Union-led negotiations. On 24 June 2021, the AU Bureau of Assembly convened a meeting to discuss various issues, including the GERD. The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, His Excellency Mr. Félix Tshisekedi, briefed the Bureau and introduced his plans for the upcoming negotiations. Unfortunately, the Republic of the Sudan did not attend that high-level meeting. With the absence of the Sudan in the 24 June Bureau meeting, the two countries — Egypt and the Sudan — have blocked nine meetings between us since June 2020.

We should have learned by now that Ethiopia does not respond well to undue political pressure and interference. Ethiopia will continue to exercise maximum restraint and showcase cooperation because we are forever linked by this majestic river. Whether we like it or not, we will continue to drink from the same river and must learn to live together as neighbors.

I reiterate Ethiopia’s long-standing commitment to the AU-led process, which is underpinned by a belief that Africans have the wisdom, the technical expertise and, most importantly, the agency to address their challenges. We believe that the phased approach proposed by President Félix Tshisekedi, the Chairperson of the African Union, could help us work towards resolving the quagmire created by the colonial heritage in the Nile basin that Egypt and the Sudan are determined to preserve.

Allow me also to address the much-talked-about second-year filling of the GERD. The second-year filling of the GERD is happening in July and August of this year. We have proactively provided the necessary data on the modalities for the filling of the dam. Let me be clear: the filling of the GERD is part of the construction process. This is clearly stipulated in the Agreement on Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam our three heads of State signed in March 2015.

The filling of the dam is pure physics. Once the dam concrete reaches a certain height, the water either flows through the bottom outlets or flows over the concrete. As designed, the dam will store water until it reaches the 13.5 billion cubic meters indicated in the filling schedule agreed to by Egypt and the Sudan. It is only fair that a country that generates 77 billion cubic meters of water impounds a small fraction of the annual inflow for its hydroelectric dam.

Egypt and the Sudan do not need any convincing as to the fortunes they will acquire upon the completion of the dam. In the wise words of Sudanese officials, the GERD is an instrument of regional integration. The GERD is for the Sudan what the High Aswan Dam is for Egypt.

In this context, I am now going out of my way to explain to the Council the absence of any threat caused by the GERD. However, we should not even have to litigate the benefits Egypt and the Sudan will acquire from the GERD to argue for our legitimate share from the Nile. All of us — the Nile riparian countries — are there to share both the bounty and the scarcity. None of us ought to stand thirsty watching the others drink. Through the GERD, Ethiopia is summoning this common sense to prevail in the Nile basin. Therefore, the Security Council should not be dragged into the GERD negotiations, in the expedient pursuit of domestic political objectives, for example.

If the Council consents to the path proffered by Egypt and the Sudan, it will certainly be entangled with resolving disputes on all transboundary rivers. Interestingly, other than one island sisterly country of ours, all members of the Security Council have transboundary watercourses. They have dealt with and continued to address differences bilaterally and through basin-wide efforts.

The GERD talks and the process we have undergone since 2011 has taught us a major lesson. Hopefully, this process will nudge us to work towards a regional mechanism on the Nile basin. In this regard, it would be regrettable for the Council to circumvent this hope by unhelpful precedent whereby Member States impose through the Council what they should acquire through good-faith negotiations. The Council should resist concerted efforts to turn it into an appellate body on transboundary-river negotiations.

Colonialism and colonial treaties thwarted Africa’s ability in utilize its natural resources for the benefit of its peoples. The Nile basin countries have recognized this problem and worked towards addressing it. In 1999, we established the Nile Basin Initiative, and in 2010, atter 13 years of negotiations, we adopted the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) on the Nile. In the Framework Agreement, which many Council members have financially and technically supported, the Nile basin countries agreed to share Nile water in an equitable and reasonable manner. We replaced the colonial and monopolistic claims with accepted principles of international law. This instrument is now awaiting two more ratifications before it can enter into force.

The insatiable demands of Egypt and, more recently, the Sudan are not about the moot issue of the GERD but about future development projects in Ethiopia and the other riparian countries. Without an effective CFA and a regional mechanism, similar issues will inevitably be brought to the Security Council. Today, it is Ethiopia’s dam; tomorrow, it could come from any one of the Nile basin countries.

The Nile belongs to all the people of the Nile basin countries — all the half billion of us in the 11 riparian countries. There is water enough for all of us. In this regard, we urge our Egyptian and Sudanese brothers and sisters to understand that a resolution to the Nile issue will not come from the Security Council; it can only come from good-faith negotiations with due care for each other’s well-being and development. Ethiopia looks forward to continuing the AU-led trilateral negotiations on the GERD. We have the solutions at hand, and we can herald good news to the world by concluding a mutually acceptable outcome.

Finally, allow me to respectfully request the Council to return this matter to the able und legitimate leadership of the African Union and to encourage Egypt and the Sudan to seriously and faithfully negotiate to reach a negotiated settlement on the first filling and annual operations of the GERD. We also request the Council to make this meeting the last of its deliberations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. There is no subject matter as far from the mandate of the Council as this one

--Meeting Record of the Security Council Seventy-sixth year 8816th meeting Thursday, 8 July 2021, 3 p.m. New York

Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan Should Negotiate Mutually Beneficial Agreement over Management of Nile Waters, Top Official Tells Security Council Cairo, Addis Ababa, Khartoum Ministers Make Their Respective Cases to Members

While Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan all have legitimate claims to, and concerns about, use of the Nile River Basin’s waters, the three neighbours should negotiate in good faith towards a mutually beneficial agreement on the historic waterway’s sustainable management, the senior United Nations official for the Horn of Africa told the Security Council today. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, emphasized: “Each of the countries sharing the Nile waters has both rights and responsibilities, and the use and management of this natural resource requires the continued engagement of all nations involved, in good faith, with a view to reaching common ground.” He added: “There is room to move forward” in the spirit of cooperation, compromise and good neighbourliness.

Recounting the history of negotiations over the river’s use, which have been ongoing for a decade, he noted that tensions have escalated in recent years as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam — whose construction began in 2011 — nears completion. With little forward movement emerging, he said, President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has stepped up his engagement on the issue in his capacity as Chair of the African Union.

He recalled that the League of Arab States issued a communiqué on the dispute in June, which called upon Ethiopia to refrain from filling the dam’s reservoir without first reaching an agreement, and asked the Security Council to discuss the matter. Ethiopia objected to that request, describing it as an attempt to politicize and internationalize the dispute, he said. To assist the African Union’s leadership of the negotiations, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been asked to provide technical advice with a view to helping the three countries reach a mutual understanding, he added.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, noted that the Nile has delivered freshwater, fed agriculture and supported livelihoods in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan for thousands of years. Whereas a number of dams exist on the river in all three countries, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will be a major source of hydropower and greatly enhance Ethiopia’s energy supply, she said, adding that surplus power can be exported across the region, helping to accelerate industrialization. “Well-planned hydraulic infrastructure on a shared river course can be a source of enhanced collaboration, and need not be a zero-sum game,” she emphasized.

Noting that the three States have undertaken sustained efforts to enhance cooperation on transboundary water resources, she recalled that, in 2015, they signed the Agreement on Declaration of Principles, in which they committed to “cooperation, equitable and reasonable” water-resource use. They also agreed to settle any disputes peacefully and pledged to work under the auspices of the African Union on outstanding issues of the negotiations, she said. However, agreement on a dispute-resolution mechanism and arrangements for the dam during times of protracted drought, among other issues, remains outstanding today.

As all three Governments have recognized, demand on water resources, both for agriculture and energy, is rising, she said. Cooperative water management is becoming even more important in the context of climate change, as models indicate that the Nile’s flow will exhibit increasing variability in the coming years. “It is, therefore, imperative that the parties work together to manage these interconnected challenges,” she stressed.

Briefing on behalf of the African Union Chairperson was the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who said tensions around the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have been rising for years. Despite several diplomatic initiatives, negotiations have ultimately reverted to the African Union under the principle of “African solutions to African problems”, he added. Under the bloc’s auspices, a draft agreement now exists, and 90 per cent of technical problems have been resolved, he asserted, while cautioning that, pending a final accord on all elements, the African Union has requested that all sides abstain from taking positions that could further complicate the negotiations.

As Council members took the floor, some delegates noted that, despite the dam’s significant potential to benefit the region, its construction has become a source of both misunderstanding and tension. Several speakers underlined the importance of constructive engagement and compromise, citing their own experiences of managing tensions with other States over transboundary water sources. Many also underscored the importance of holding negotiations over an African project that affects three African neighbours under the auspices of the African Union.

Niger’s representative echoed others in calling upon Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to demonstrate the continued political will to engage in negotiations, while urging the three States to exercise restraint and refrain from any actions that could put a final agreement at risk. “Peaceful coexistence is priceless,” he emphasized, noting his own country’s membership of a successful nine-State water management framework — the Niger Basin Authority. Welcoming the African Union Assembly’s pledges to push forward with negotiations, he spotlighted the important principle of subsidiarity, saying it should lead the three relevant countries to resolve their own challenges.

Kenya’s representative emphasized that the goal of all the peoples of the Horn of Africa is to throw off the shackles of poverty and the ills of war. Describing the concerns of Egypt and Sudan as legitimate — and Ethiopia’s use of the Nile’s waters as equally so — he declared: “Kenya stands with the three States, recognizing their equality and that all their people equally deserve development and prosperity.” Against that backdrop, the three Governments are to be commended for placing their faith and confidence in the African Union’s mediation mechanism while agreeing that the principle of subsidiarity remains critical, he said.

India’s representative shared his own country’s experience as a riparian State — one situated on a riverbank – that has engaged in difficult negotiations on transboundary water issues. India’s experience further underscores the importance of bilateral or plurilateral mechanisms agreed by the primary stakeholders, taking into account technical details, historical usage and socioeconomic aspects, he said. Going forward, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan should pursue bilateral engagements and cooperate fully with the African Union to reach a long-term solution that will serve the development needs of all communities, he advised.

Mexico’s delegate also shared his country’s experience, noting that it has a long history of sharing water resources, both on its northern border with the United States and its southern border with Belize and Guatemala. Suggesting that the International Boundary Water Commission — established between the United States and Mexico in 1989 — could serve as a good template for similar arrangements between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan, he called upon them to reach agreement on filling the dam and urged them to abstain from actions that could undermine the goodwill needed to reach such a compromise.

Sudan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the need for the process to continue under African Union auspices and urged the Council to play a positive role in resolving the dispute. She said her country has supported the dam’s construction from the outset, understanding that its advantages would not be restricted to Ethiopia, and that it would operate according to a legally binding agreement that considers the equitable, reasonable use of cross-border resources without inflicting harm on downstream States. However, she warned that the 74 billion cubic metre dam, located near Sudan’s border, could present a threat to half of the country and to all of Egypt in the absence of coordination with downstream communities. “It is crucial for us to be kept abreast on the filling and functioning methods of the Renaissance Dam,” she emphasized, pointing out that Ethiopia has rejected all recent proposals.

Egypt’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, echoing some of those points, stressed that more than 100 million Egyptians face an existential threat from a dam of mammoth proportions being built along the artery that gives them life. Noting that Ethiopia has unilaterally begun filling the dam — essentially declaring ownership of the Nile — he said Egypt’s response has been one of restraint in the interest of all sides. He went on to denounce Ethiopia’s actions as a violation of international law and an attempt to transform a boundary river into an instrument of political control. The failure of negotiations and the absence of a viable settlement compelled Cairo to request that the Council to intervene in a situation that could endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, he said, urging members to call for the adoption of Tunisia’s draft resolution seeking an equitable agreement within a defined timeline.

Ethiopia’s Minister for Water, Irrigation and Energy said it is unfitting of the Council’s time and resources to hold discussions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The project is not the first of its kind in Africa nor in the world, he said, adding: “Perhaps what puts [the dam] in distinction from other projects is the extent of hope and aspiration in generates for 65 million Ethiopians that have no access to electricity.” Ethiopia has the best wishes for its neighbours, Egypt and Sudan, and believes in their ability to cooperate for their mutual benefit, he said. Pointing out that both countries have dams and canals, large and small, that they constructed without regard for the rights of other riparian countries, he pledged that Ethiopia will continue to negotiate in good faith, while emphasizing: “None of us ought to stand thirsty while watching the others drink.”

The Russian Federation’s representative suggested that negotiations among all countries of the Nile Basin would be the best outcome. He cautioned that statements about the possible use of force should be avoided, emphasizing: “We are concerned about escalation of confrontational rhetoric.”

[The Nile Basin comprises Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.]

Also speaking were representatives of Tunisia, United Kingdom, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, United States, Estonia, Ireland, Viet Nam, China and France.

The meeting began at 3:03 p.m. and ended at 5:51 p.m.

Briefings

PARFAIT ONANGA-ANYANGA, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa, said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam encapsulates the conflicting narratives, hopes and fears, challenges and opportunities related to water usage, security and energy in Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and the wider Horn. Recalling his last briefing on the matter in June 2020, he said that, since then, the three countries have been unable to agree on a framework of engagement to settle several remaining contentious issues. Those include a dispute-resolution mechanism and an agreement on drought mitigation, particularly the filling and operation of the dam during drought years.

Outlining the recent negotiations and their scope, he said the three sides failed to agree on the exact role of the experts and observers supporting the African Union-led negotiations process, first at a virtual ministerial-level meeting in October 2020, and then at a subsequent meeting in January 2021. In February, Sudan put forward a new proposal contemplating a quadripartite joint mediation by the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States, he recalled. In March, Sudan with Egypt’s support formally requested that those entities mediate. Ethiopia, however, preferred fewer changes to the ongoing African Union-led process, he said. During subsequent talks in Kinshasa in April, the three States were once again unable to agree on a mediation framework.

Owing to the lack of progress, he continued, President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in his capacity as Chair of the African Union, stepped up his engagement on the issue. In May, he undertook a tour of the region, meeting with all three sides on the basis of a two-step approach — first addressing the most pressing issue of filling the dam during the rainy reason, and second, seeking guarantees for a more comprehensive agreement on its subsequent filling and operation, he recounted. In June, the League of Arab States passed a communiqué on the dam dispute, calling upon Ethiopia to refrain from filling its reservoir without first reaching an agreement, and upon the Security Council to meet on the issue.

However, Ethiopia objected to that communiqué, which it saw as an attempt to politicize and internationalize the dispute, he said, adding that Addis Ababa also underlined its commitment to African Union mediation while reiterating its plan to move forward with the second filling of the dam in July. Highlighting bilateral meetings between Ethiopia and Sudan, and the latter’s recently announced intention to accept an interim agreement on the dam’s filling, he said the Government of Ethiopia sent letters to those of Egypt and Sudan last week, informing them of the start of the second filling. Both Egypt and Sudan have objected to that notification, reiterating their position that any further filling should take place in the context of an agreed framework.

He stressed: “Each of the countries sharing the Nile waters has both rights and responsibilities, and the use and management of this natural resource requires the continued engagement of all nations involved, in good faith, with a view to reaching common ground.” To assist in that process, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will provide technical advice based on the best available scientific data and knowledge, with a view to helping the three countries reach a mutual understanding. Calling upon all sides to engage in a constructive manner and to avoid any pronouncements that could increase tensions, he said that, together, alongside other interested partners, “there is room to move forward” in the spirit of cooperation, compromise and good neighbourliness.

INGER ANDERSEN, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said water sources can be the basis for cooperation, as well as the cause of disputes between countries or communities. “Well-planned hydraulic infrastructure on a shared river course can be a source of enhanced collaboration, and need not be a zero-sum game,” she emphasized, pointing out that integrated planning can help prevent damaging seasonal floods and generate development benefits. Drawing particular attention to the Blue Nile — a critical water resource for Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan — she said its headwaters are situated in a region where highly seasonal rains produce 69 per cent of the annual river flow between July and September.

Outlining the river’s trajectory, she said the Blue Nile merges with the White Nile in Khartoum, Sudan, and then flows downstream into Egypt. Noting that the Nile has delivered freshwater, fed agriculture and supported livelihoods in the three countries for thousands of years, she said that, since 2011, Ethiopia has been constructing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a major hydropower source, on the Blue Nile. The generation of hydroelectricity will enhance Ethiopia’s energy supply and help accelerate industrialization, she said, adding that surplus electricity can be exported across the region. Construction of the dam is now nearing completion, and the reservoir began to fill for the first time in 2020, she pointed out.

A number of dams exist in the Nile Basin, including smaller dams on the Blue Nile, she said, citing the Merowe Dam and Roseires Dam in Sudan, and the High Aswan Dam in upper Egypt. When completed, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will generate more than twice as much electricity as the latter. “Where water is scarce and drought frequent, such as is the case in the Blue Nile Basin, cooperation on a shared river is the only long-term sustainable option,” she stressed, noting that, in the coming years, both the High Aswan and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dams — two of the world’s largest — will largely control and regulate the flow of the Nile. Careful and cooperative basin-wide management will be crucial in maximizing the benefits of such infrastructure and minimize any negative consequences, she said.

The Governments of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have made sustained efforts to enhance their cooperation on transboundary water resources, she continued. In 2015, they signed the Agreement on Declaration of Principles, in which they committed to “cooperation, equitable and reasonable” water‑resource use, agreeing to settle any disputes peacefully. They are also working under the auspices of the African Union Chairperson on other parts of the negotiation, but consensus has not yet been reached regarding some critical aspects. Those include arrangements for the management of protracted drought; the development of upstream and downstream waters; and a dispute-resolution mechanism. Some differences also remain regarding the scope and nature of the proposed agreement, she added.

“With other sources of regional tension increasing,” she said, “We must recognize that overcoming the remaining differences among the parties will require careful, meticulous work […] with a determination by the three States to arrive at a cooperative solution.” As all three Governments have recognized, demand on water resources, both for agriculture and energy, is rising. Underlining that effective, cooperative water management is becoming even more important in the context of climate change, she said models indicated that the flow of the Nile will exhibit increasing variability during the period leading up to 2040, resulting in more floods and more intense droughts. “It is, therefore, imperative that the parties work together to manage these interconnected challenges,” she concluded.

PAUL LOSOKO EFAMBE EMPOLE (Democratic Republic of the Congo), speaking on behalf of the Chair of the African Union, said the dam, which is situated 15 kilometres from Sudan’s border, aims to increase Ethiopia’s energy supply and meet the needs of other countries. It will be the largest dam in Africa, but the enormous project is posing problems for Sudan and Egypt, whose people depend on the White Nile, he noted. Tensions have been observed for years and several initiatives been taken to address the situation, including negotiations under the auspices of the United States and the World Bank, as well as discussions in the Security Council on 29 June 2020.

The matter then reverted to the African Union, under the principle of “African solutions to African problems”, he said, pointing to the draft agreement and resolution of 90 per cent of the technical problems as being among the gains made. The creation of a dispute-resolution mechanism and the management of water during drought periods are among the pending issues, he said. Outlining the African Union’s diplomatic initiatives, he said they included an in-person ministerial conference in Kinshasa in April. Such consultations at the highest level allowed for the facilitation of negotiations, he added, recalling that, on 24 June, President Tshisekedi reassured the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government that he is working to restore trust and find consensus among the three States.

He said that, upon their conclusion, the President Tshisekedi affirmed that he would provide a comprehensive report to the Bureau. In the meantime, the President requested that all sides abstain from taking positions that could complicate the talks. Those efforts, with the assistance of observers, led to the drafting to a document that will soon be presented to the three Governments as the basis for negotiations, he said. Noting that the filling of the reservoir and operation of the dam were among the points agreed, he emphasized: “A solution remains possible in this crisis. The will is there.” However, efforts are required to “break the ice of mistrust”, he said, expressing hope that the Council will provide support for the efforts of the African Union and the facilitator to forge a peaceful resolution “in this sensitive part of the Horn of Africa”.

Statements

TAREK LADEB (Tunisia) called for an agreement that respects the vital interests of the people and countries involved, stressing that the Nile is a source of livelihood and development for Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. There is urgent need for a cooperation mechanism on the use of water and the settlement of disputes that protects the rights of the upstream countries without harming the interests of those downstream. “This is not impossible,” he said, emphasizing that it requires political will to settle outstanding legal and technical issues. The three should continue negotiations under African Union auspices, with a view to reaching a legally binding agreement in a reasonable time frame, he added. That would pave the way for a new era of constructive cooperation and partnership, as agreed by the African Union Bureau on 21 July 2020, and in line with the 2015 Declaration of Principles. The Council must support the African Union in sponsoring the negotiations by sending a clear message on the issue, he stressed, encouraging the countries involved to resume talks and work constructively for an agreement.

BARBARA WOODWARD (United Kingdom) emphasized her country’s strong emphasis on consensus around issues affecting a shared natural resource, adding that many of the elements needed to reach consensus on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam are captured in the 2015 Declaration of Principles, in particular the commitment Not to cause Significant Harm and the one relating to Equitable and Reasonable Utilization. The three States have continued talks to reach a more detailed trilateral agreement on the filling and operation of the dam, she said, while noting the disappointment of Egypt and Sudan that a resolution has yet to be reached, as well as the stated commitment of all three countries to the African Union-led talks. She called upon all three sides to refrain from actions that undermine negotiations and to engage urgently to seek a mutually acceptable agreement.

MARTIN KIMANI (Kenya), noting that the Nile Basin has been a source of hope and connection throughout history, said its more than 257 million inhabitants will be impacted by the statements and decisions made halfway around the globe in the Council Chamber. Recalling that the objectives of the 1999 riparian Nile Basin Initiative included developing the basin’s water resources in a sustainable and equitable way, he said the goal of the region’s peoples is only to throw off the shackles of poverty and the ills of war. However, the concerns of two riparian States, Egypt and Sudan, regarding the legitimate use of Nile waters by the third State, Ethiopia, are also legitimate. “Kenya stands with the three States, recognizing their equality and that all their people equally deserve development and prosperity,” he said, commending those Governments for placing their faith and confidence in the African Union’s mediation mechanism while emphasizing the critical importance of the principle of subsidiarity. Kenya is confident that Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will make the principle of “African solutions for African challenges” a reality, he said.

MONA JUUL (Norway) agreed that Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have legitimate interests in the Nile and its water resources, emphasizing that a sustainable solution to the dam issue can only be found by the States themselves. Noting that much has already been agreed through the Declaration of Principles, she described the latter as a good framework within which to seek equitable and reasonable use of the Blue Nile. What remains is for all sides to reach consensus on the modalities for future cooperation, based on those Principles, and on transparency and trust, she said, stressing: “This requires constructive engagement, political will and the courage to find compromise.” She echoed calls for the three countries to refrain from any action that could undermine negotiations.

INGA RHONDA KING, (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), acknowledging that the Nile River is indispensable to the development of each country, encouraged all three to reconsider their entrenched positions and continue with the trilateral negotiations in good faith. The African Union is the best suited to facilitate the peaceful settlement of disputes on the continent, she said, emphasizing the importance of respecting the Principle of Subsidiarity, as well as Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. “The existing disagreement is among family members,” she asserted, expressing confidence that Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will resolve their difficulties, “as all families do, with wisdom and harmony”. Noting that “our sister nations” have a shared history linked by the Nile, with which their futures will remain interwoven, she said it is in their collective interests to find a palatable solution, especially given that they have already agreed on 90 per cent of the issues.

VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation), while saying he is aware of the significance of the largest hydropower project in Africa, noted the legitimate concerns of Egypt and Sudan over its possible negative impact in the absence of an agreement. However, there is no alternative to settling the dispute other than negotiations, he said, emphasizing that the search for a solution must be carried out in the spirit of the 2015 Khartoum Declaration and take into account the progress achieved in defining the dam’s modalities. “Mutual understanding and trust are required,” he added, cautioning that statements about the possible use of force should be avoided. “We are concerned about escalation of confrontational rhetoric”, as disagreements on development should not lead to threats to peace and security, he stressed. Gradually reaching agreement on filling the reservoir and operation of the power station could help to find a mutually acceptable agreement. The best outcome would be negotiations among all countries in the Nile Basin, he said, welcoming the involvement of the African Union, including its committee of technical and legal experts. However, he called upon the regional organization to intensify its focus, noting that increasing the number of mediators and observers will not bring added value, although their involvement would be possible with the consent of all countries involved. He went on to propose that all interested parties, under the mediation of the African Union Chair, hold talks on site since all three sides are currently in New York. Describing that option as the best contribution the Council could make in the quest for a solution, he underlined his country’s readiness to provide satellite monitoring of the reservoir’s filling at the request of all involved.

LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD (United States) warned that the Horn of Africa is at an inflection point, while emphasizing her country’s commitment to addressing the interlinked regional crises. The United States supports collaborative efforts by Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan to resolve their differences, she said. “We believe this is an issue that can be reconciled” through political commitment, she added, stressing that the concerns of Egypt and Sudan over water security and safe operation of the dam can be reconciled with Ethiopia’s development needs. That begins with negotiations under the leadership of African Union, which should recommence based on the 2015 Declaration of Principles and the July 2020 statement by the African Union Bureau. The United States is committed to providing political and technical support to facilitate an effective outcome, she added, urging the African Union also to tap the expertise of South Africa, the European Union and the United Nations. She also urged Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia to discuss the full range of options with the United States, while cautioning all involved against taking any action that could jeopardize the negotiation process. They should commit to a solution that is acceptable to everyone, she said.

SVEN JÜRGENSON (Estonia) expressed concern over heightened tensions surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, an issue to which there are no easy solutions. “Therefore, it is twice as important that all three parties involved are willing to make the necessary concessions, which would allow them to arrive at a fair and equitable solution.” He called upon all three to negotiate in good faith. Noting the role of the African Union, he nevertheless expressed regret that no agreement has yet been reached on important outstanding issues. The African Union should remain the main forum for those talks, adding that Estonia also supports the participation of observers. He urged all three parties to refrain from taking any unilateral actions that might escalate the situation, and cautioned against any further delays, declaring: “The time to come to an agreement is now.”

GERALDINE BYRNE NASON (Ireland) said it is clear that a negotiated settlement is the only solution to the critical issue under discussion today. “A lasting agreement on how the dam is managed is absolutely critical for the long-term stability and development of the entire region,” she emphasized, noting that cooperation on transboundary water is key to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan are experiencing first hand the impacts of climate change, population growth and rapid urbanization, which will only increase water‑management challenges. “The parties are right to be looking ahead for their own people’s future, but they need to do this in relative harmony and together,” she stressed. Noting the African Union’s efforts in leading negotiations and the facilitation by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she said those complex talks should continue to draw on the necessary technical expertise and political support. Meanwhile, the three States should avoid actions that might damage the prospects for agreement and redouble their efforts to explore confidence-building measures, decrease tensions and build trust. As noted in the Declaration of Principles, that could include a reciprocal information-sharing arrangement with the support of observers, she said.

T.S. TIRUMURTI (India) said that, as a lower and upper riparian State, his country is only too aware of how difficult negotiations on transboundary water issues can be. India’s experience is that transboundary water disputes should be resolved through bilateral or plurilateral mechanisms agreed by the primary stakeholders, taking into account technical details, historical usage and socio-economic aspects, he said. Going forward, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan should pursue bilateral engagements, and cooperate fully with the African Union in a focused manner, to reach a long-term solution that will serve the development needs of the upper and lower riparian regions, he emphasized.

ABDOU ABARRY (Niger) described the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as a project with immense potential, but whose construction has become a source of misunderstanding and tension among the three relevant States. Calling for renewed political will to engage in negotiations, he said the African Union should be granted the authority to submit proposals on a final agreement. Urging Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to refrain from any acts that could put such an agreement at risk, he emphasized: “Peaceful coexistence is priceless.” He went on to point out that his own country is part of a successful nine-State water management framework known as the Niger Basin Authority. Welcoming the African Union Assembly’s recent communiqué pledging to push forward with negotiations, he spotlighted the important principle of subsidiarity, saying it should lead the three relevant countries to resolve their own challenges.

ENRIQUE JAVIER OCHOA MARTÍNEZ (Mexico), while expressing regret that no notable progress has been achieved despite many years of negotiations, said that whereas the Council must be attentive to any matter that risks becoming a threat to international peace and security, the current matter is regional in nature and should be viewed in accordance with the principle of prevention. He added that the global community should support the African Union’s mediation efforts. He urged the three relevant countries to reach agreement on filling the dam and to abstain from any actions that could undermine the goodwill needed to reach agreement. He pointed out that Mexico, like other Council members, has a long history of sharing water resources, both on its northern border with the United States and its southern border with Belize and Guatemala. The International Boundary Water Commission, established between the United States and Mexico in 1989, could serve as a good template for similar arrangements between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan, he suggested. While offering to share his country’s experience, he nevertheless cautioned that managing water resources is never without challenges, and emphasized the importance of a dispute-resolution mechanism.

DINH QUY DANG (Viet Nam) said there is a growing tendency to use international watercourses in ways that may not ensure the legitimate rights and interests of riparian countries, especially those downstream. He emphasized the importance of further codifying and developing international law relating to the sustainable use of transboundary watercourses, including through the United Nations Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses. With regard to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, he said all sides concerned should build upon the results already achieved and implement the 2015 Agreement on Declaration of Principles. It is also high time for the African Union to speed up its efforts to help Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan resolve outstanding issues, including legal and technical questions, he stressed.

ZHANG JUN (China) said completion of the dam can enhance mutual trust and win-win cooperation through joint efforts. Referring to the 2015 Declaration of Principles and multiple rounds of negotiation held under African Union auspices, he noted the positions expressed in recent letters to the Council by the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. China fully understands the concerns of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, he said, while encouraging them to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation. African countries have “a fine tradition” of doing so, he added, expressing hope that they will resume dialogue and reach an agreement that is acceptable and beneficial to each of them in a spirit of friendly cooperation. The Council should support such efforts and create a favourable external environment for the sake of peace and development in Africa.

NICOLAS DE RIVIÈRE (France), Council President for July, speaking in his national capacity, declared: “All parties have legitimate interests to assert.” However, after a decade of negotiations, confidence has been damaged and the continued filling of the dam’s reservoir is raising tension in the absence of a prior agreement, he noted. The priority must be to avoid adding to the problems already confronting each of the three countries, especially the ongoing democratic transition in Sudan, Ethiopia’s development challenges and Egypt’s efforts to meet the needs of its people. They should demonstrate the political will to resolve their differences through dialogue, with the support of the African Union, and to refrain from any action that could undermine talks and the achievement of a negotiated solution, he emphasized. Praising the African Union’s leadership, he stressed: “These efforts must continue and be strengthened.”

SAMEH HASSAN SHOKRY SELIM, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt, said more than 100 million Egyptians face an existential threat from a dam of mammoth proportions being built along the artery that gives them life. “It has cast a long and dark shadow on the future and fate of the people of Egypt,” he emphasized. On 29 June 2020, he recalled, Cairo warned the Council of the burgeoning danger and cautioned against moves to gain exclusive control over a shared river and underscoring the need to avert an escalation of tensions that could jeopardize peace. Within days, Ethiopia unilaterally began filling the dam and declared that “the Nile is ours”. Egypt’s response was one of restraint, seeking an equitable agreement that preserves the interests of all parties, he stated. Having engaged in years of talks under African Union auspices, Egypt has attempted to forge an African solution to that African problem. “Yet, we have failed,” he said, adding that, despite those efforts, the dam was filled unilaterally without an agreement to protect downstream communities. On 5 July 2021, Ethiopia began the second filling.

“This manifestation of irresponsibility and callous indifference to what it could inflict demonstrates bad faith and an attempt to impose a fait accompli against the will of the international community,” he declared. While commending the European Union’s statement today expressing regret over moves, he encouraged the Council to do likewise, a position that has not been reflected in any of today’s interventions. Denouncing Ethiopia’s violation of international law and attempts to transform a boundary river into an instrument of political control, he said the failure of negotiations and the absence of a viable settlement compelled Egypt to request the Council’s intervention “expeditiously and effectively” in a situation that could endanger international peace and security. Egypt’s position is informed by an abiding faith in international law and multilateralism as vehicles for stemming strife, he stressed. The Council’s value lies in its authority to uphold peace rather than “stand by in indifference” while communities are threatened, he said.

Egypt, he continued, seeks to conclude a legally binding, equitable and reasonable agreement containing provisions on stemming any adverse effects and protecting riparian interests from harm, while ensuring that its water security is not imperilled by the operation of Africa’s largest hydropower facility. “Agreement is not beyond reach,” he stressed. The repeated failure of negotiations is not due to lack of scientific legal expertise, but rather to Ethiopian intransigence. “The cause of this crisis is political,” he said, characterizing Addis Ababa’s position as one of comity or charity under the illusion that the Blue Nile is an internal river it can exploit to its exclusive benefit. Ethiopia refuses to sign a legally binding agreement and has instead proposed to designate the text as mere guidelines and rules. It insists on codifying its unlimited right to amend the dam agreement, invoking a “mythical injustice” brought on by an unfair status quo. In reality, Ethiopia has never concluded an agreement on the Nile under a threat or compulsion, he noted, demanding that Egypt’s upstream co-riparian comply with international law.

Recounting Egypt’s exhaustive efforts — under the auspices of the African Union — he said Ethiopia has torpedoed even an environmental assessment of the dam’s impact. It is “deeply disheartening” that the African Union-led process, in its current format, has reached an impasse, he added. Calling upon the Council to prevent the dam from becoming a threat to Egypt’s existence, he said it should call on parties to reach an equitable agreement within a defined timeline, recognizing the gravity of the situation and fulfilling its duty to maintain international peace. The Council is instructed under Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations to act on behalf the general membership to advance the principles guiding the Organization’s work, he recalled. The Council must adopt the draft resolution circulated by Tunisia’s delegation, he said, clarifying that Egypt does not expect it to formulate legal and technical solutions or impose a settlement. Rather, the resolution is political in nature: its purpose — “imminently balanced” — is to relaunch negotiations in a format that enhances the leadership of the African Union Chair and enables international partners to use their expertise to help forge an equitable agreement. Such an accord should aim to effectuate the two meetings of the African Union’s Bureau, which instructed the three sides to expeditiously finalize a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam. Adopting the resolution would reaffirm the Council’s resolve to uphold its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and send a signal on its commitment to peace in Africa, he said, underlining that anything less would be a dereliction of duty.

MARIAM ALSADIG AL SEDEEG AL MAHADI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan, reaffirmed the need for the process to continue under African Union auspices, urging the Council to play a positive role in resolving the dispute. Since the outset, she said, Sudan has supported the dam’s construction from an understanding that its advantages would not be restricted to Ethiopia and that it would operate according to a legally binding agreement that considers the equitable, reasonable use of cross-border resources without inflicting harm on downstream States. Useful in preventing drought, the dam would be filled and function in a way that Sudan is informed about and understands, she said. Citing other cross-border examples, she said four West African States have cooperated around the Senegal River since 1972, and eight States manage the Niger River under a legally binding agreement concluded in 1980. The Renaissance Dam, she pointed out — with its capacity of 74 billion cubic metres and location near Sudan’s border — could present a threat to half of the latter and all of Egypt in the absence of coordination with downstream communities, she said, emphasizing that millions of people have lived along the Nile for millennia, subsisting on river agriculture. Khartoum could “in no way” allow the dam’s filling and operation to be determined unilaterally, as Ethiopia has done.

In June 2020, she recalled, Ethiopia unilaterally notified Sudan of the dam’s opening, which allowed 2.5 billion cubic metres to flow in just 72 hours, inducing panic and terror in downstream Sudanese communities, she recalled. On 5 July 2021, Addis Ababa’s Irrigation Minister informed Khartoum of plans to fill the dam for a second year, which again will cause considerable damage to Sudan, sweep aside neighbourly rights and imperil the security of Sudanese citizens, she said, underlining that, without a regular exchange of information, the safety of Sudan’s Roseires Dam — located 100 kilometres away and which irrigates 70 per cent of the country’s agriculture — will also be threatened. “It is crucial for us to be kept abreast on the filling and functioning methods of the Renaissance Dam so that Sudan can plan its agriculture projects,” she insisted. Pointing out that her country is now open to the world, she said that is thanks to its recent revolution and the sacrifices made by Sudanese youth, which freed Sudan from a totalitarian regime. Khartoum is resolved to preserve stability and has carried out deep economic reforms, based on its faith in cooperation with the rest of the world. Ethiopia’s attempts to impose hegemony are “extremely serious” and jeopardize Sudan’s promising future, she said. The two countries are linked by a history of cooperation, solidarity and safeguarding mutual interests by strengthening brotherly relations, she stated, declaring: “We wish to continue down this same path.”

She went on to cite Sudan’s “colossal” efforts to persuade Egypt and Ethiopia to sign the Declaration of Principles in 2015 and agree to an initiative by Khartoum’s Prime Minister in June 2020 aimed at fostering dialogue on the pending questions. Sudan also responded to efforts by South Africa and the African Union, which participated in all negotiating rounds, to find an internal solution to the dispute. In the last round, Khartoum proposed transforming the negotiation mechanism into a mediation platform, with the participation of the United Nations, the European Union and South Africa, all of which had been observers in previous rounds. “Ethiopia rejected all such proposals,” she said, adding that the Council must call upon all three States to resume the African Union-led talks, with the involvement of international mediators, to ensure Ethiopia abstains from unilateral moves. She stated “unequivocally” that the issue is “a just cause” which will ensure that the filling and functioning of the dam happens pursuant to a legally binding agreement. Silence by the Council would send the wrong message, signalling its tacit approval that Ethiopia’s moves are acceptable, she stressed.

SELESHI BEKELE AWULACHEW, Minister for Water, Irrigation and Energy of Ethiopia, said it is unfitting of the Council’s time and resources to hold discussions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. In June 2020, members urged his country, alongside Egypt and Sudan, to continue their negotiations under the African Union-led process, he recalled, saying his country’s Government did so in good faith. The dam is not the first of its kind in Africa or in the world, nor is the reservoir that will store water and generate electricity, he pointed out. “Perhaps what puts [the dam] in distinction from other projects is the extent of hope and aspiration it generates for 65 million Ethiopians that have no access to electricity,” he said. Describing it as “the right dam built at the right place” for the benefit of the broader region, he expressed regret over Ethiopia’s inability to utilize it to date, emphasizing his country’s best wishes at heart for its neighbours, Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia believes in their ability to cooperate for the mutual benefit of all three countries, he said.

“Unfortunately, we are here because Egypt, and more recently Sudan, have expressed their opposition to this hydroelectric dam,” he continued, pointing out that both have dams and canals, large and small, that they constructed without regard for the rights of other riparian countries and in spite of Ethiopia’s pleas for consultation. Emphasizing that no viable alternative to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam exists, he said that, unlike Egypt and Sudan, Ethiopia has no considerable ground water reserves, nor does it desalinate. Nearly 70 per cent of its water comes from the Nile Basin, he added, noting that his country’s focus is on maximizing scarce water resources through sustainable, green use. He went on to express his belief that agreement between the three States is within reach while warning: “Ethiopia does not respond well to undue political pressure and interference.” Addis Ababa will continue to negotiate under the auspices of the African Union, he stressed, declaring: “None of us ought to stand thirsty while watching the other drink.”

Ambassador Taye Atske Selassies’s Speech to the 8812th meeting of UN Security Council on Friday, 2 July 2021 3:00PM, New York On the Situation in Tigray, Ethiopia

Mr. Amde (Ethiopia): Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of July. I assure you of my delegation’s full support.

My country, Ethiopia, is undergoing a significant transformation that requires delicate and context-driven handling of its domestic affairs. In our bilateral meetings with members of the Council and the informal dialogue we had last month, we exchanged views and concerns — all of which the Government of Ethiopia approached and acted upon in a constructive manner. Therefore, I am surprised by the rationale in calling for this open meeting. We are fully cognizant of the responsibility of the Council to work towards international peace and security. The very first requisite for that onerous responsibility is to encourage dialogue and prevent escalation through constructive engagement and the reinforcement of achievements.

This meeting has been called at a time when the Government has taken bold measures and political decisions to meet the needs and well-being of its people affected by the law enforcement operation in Tigray. That measure should have encouraged our friends to give support and de-escalate the unhelpful pressure. Equally, we wish to express our appreciation to everyone for recognizing our resolve for peace behind the difficult initiative we have taken. Since the Council held the informal interactive dialogue on the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, there are critical developments that deserve the Council’s recognition and constructive outlook.

On 28 June, the Government of Ethiopia decided to cease the active military engagement of the Ethiopian National Defense Force in the Tigray region. That decision for a humanitarian ceasefire was reached after a concerted deliberation with various stakeholders and partners. We hope that magnanimous and far-sighted decision will not be wasted by the irresponsible conduct of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) group, which the Government of Ethiopia opted to tolerate for the sake of the people of Tigray and to alleviate the humanitarian situation in the region.

The decision to cease military operations is hoped to create a conducive environment for humanitarian operations in Tigray. It will also pave the way for an inclusive national dialogue. The TPLF group that we were pursuing continued its belligerence to protect a few individuals. In furtherance of its agenda, it began conscripting young and elderly civilians, women and men, to fight highly trained and armed men of their country. That exposed people in Tigray to a military confrontation they were not prepared for. Furthermore, it posed a risk for disruption to the agricultural season. The group’s ethnically charged tactics of pitting the people against the Government have also been found to be detrimental to our innate social fabric.

As a result, the Government of Ethiopia, as the bearer of the primary responsibility to protect its people, made a difficult political decision to suspend active military operations in favour of safeguarding the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Ethiopian State.

We believe we have now created a space for unfettered humanitarian assistance and the proper conduct of the agricultural planting season. In addition, we will augment humanitarian efforts in the region, including the distribution of food and non-food items from warehouses across Tigray. The National Disaster Risk Management Commission and the five humanitarian agencies deployed in all woredas of the region are set to resume functioning. Furthermore, we are in the process of adapting the humanitarian assistance guidelines and coordination mechanism to the new developments. Public services will also resume once we create a situation for the safe operation of the infrastructure and its operators.

Ethiopia faced the inevitable journey of addressing the political underpinnings of what we had experienced last November when our defense forces were attacked from within. The immediate need lies in creating an environment for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance. In that regard, the Government will continue to exert maximum efforts and allocate the available resources to that end.

We welcome and appreciate the concern expressed by Council members for our compatriots in Tigray who have regrettably sustained the burden of the law enforcement operation due to the cowardly tactics of the TPLF group.

It is important to underline that the wounding and suffering of any Ethiopian is unacceptable. The shortcomings in preventing that suffering are not something that the Government belittles. In the same vein, we take our responsibility to ensure accountability and remedy those problems with maximum seriousness. For absolute clarity, I would like to reaffirm my Government’s firm commitment to those core responsibilities of the State.

There certainly are internal as well as external factors that play into the security challenges we are facing. The external security threats against us — through no fault of provocation on our part — are complicating our internal political dynamics and distracting us from key national priorities. I wish to implore the Council to act with full awareness of the external challenges Ethiopia is facing.

Following the organization of peaceful and successful national elections this month, efforts are now geared towards building a strong, united and democratic country. In that connection, the Ethiopian Government is developing a road map for inclusive dialogue to ensure lasting peace and stability.

I want to reaffirm my Government’s resolve to ensuring accountability for human rights abuses and crimes committed in the Tigray region. We will make sure that impunity is not tolerated. We remain committed to working with all bilateral and multilateral partners through genuine partnership and an understanding that the Government of Ethiopia is more than capable of overcoming those challenges. We encourage Council members to play a constructive role in supporting the Ethiopian Government in the implementation of the humanitarian ceasefire. We again thank Council members that have welcomed that positive gesture.

In contrast, I would like to make it clear that the political pressure and hasty bilateral coercive measures against Ethiopia are unacceptable and violate basic tenets of international law. Excessive pressure will push this ancient country of 110 million people to the precipice and deprive it of any possibility of recovery. The people of Ethiopia are indeed watching and should not perceive that our pronouncements are pushing them to the abyss and endless political division. For Ethiopia, this is a moment of introspection, a genuine revisiting of our successes and challenges.

The main issue is how to heal our wounds. There is unfinished grieving and mourning, such as with regard to the Mai Kadra massacre by the TPLF youth group and the suffering of the people of Wollega in Tigray, who have been evicted from their ancestral land over the past 30 years. Therefore, there needs to be proper closure. The political culture of impunity should have closure. We know that overcoming our own challenges is what exults us as a nation. What would alleviate us as a nation is our commitment and the commitment of our people to stand for peace. We might be poor, but we also have hope. We are people with cherished values. For Ethiopia, hope is still alive.

In conclusion, I hope the Council will look at the situation in my country in the right perspective, understand the magnitude of the challenges we face and recognize the important step we have taken in that regard. What we really need at the moment is the support, understanding and solidarity of the international community. That is why I want to conclude by appealing to international partners and friends of our country to continue scaling up humanitarian support to meet humanitarian needs across Ethiopia.

Meeks Issues Statement After Committee Hearing on Conflict in Ethiopia June 29, 2021

Washington, DC - Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the Committee conducted a hearing on the status of the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia:

“Today’s hearing on Ethiopia, held against the backdrop of a dynamic situation in the country’s Tigray region, underscores the scope and complexity of the conflict there. The Ethiopian government’s unilateral call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the last twenty-four hours opens the door for all parties to the conflict to come to the negotiating table in good faith. I welcome these developments and remain hopeful that the Ethiopian people will soon find the peace they so richly deserve. There is no room for bellicose rhetoric from those who seek to undermine this temporary reprieve from the shocking and unacceptable violence that has ravaged Tigray since November.

“I commend the Biden Administration for its efforts to address the crisis in Ethiopia and urge further engagement on the ethnic tensions that continue to divide the nation. Until all parties to the conflict in Tigray uphold their commitments, the United States and Congress will continue to call for a full and permanent withdrawal of all Eritrean troops from Ethiopia and unfettered access for humanitarian workers who need to operate in Tigray. I am confident the United States will support efforts to prioritize the protection of civilians and de-escalation of violence that could potentially jeopardize this tenuous ceasefire.”

The way forward to Ethiopia-U.S. relations: Collaboration or confrontation?

— June 19, 2021 comments off

DEMEKE MEKONNEN

(FDRE Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs)

Mutually beneficial relations based on a common understanding and respect are central to further enhancing the Ethio-U.S.A. relations to a higher level with a direct impact on policies and institutions on the ground. In this regard, the US Senate resolution 97 is unhelpful to seek a lasting solution to the instabilities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. Withholding development aid and programmatic support to Ethiopia will hurt ordinary citizens and taint the longstanding relations between the two countries. Efforts to nurture long-term economic, political, and diplomatic relations between the two nations should be based on collaboration, not confrontation. The U.S.A. needs to avoid being perceived as interfering in the internal affairs of nations or enhancing insecurity and socioeconomic vulnerability in countries such as Ethiopia. Senate resolution 97 is a matter of concern to Ethiopians and the country’s leadership. However, it should be of equal concern to the Whitehouse, State Department, and other executive branches as it hinders opportunities to advance the U.S.A.’s long-term interests in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

What is at stake?

Ethiopia is critically important to cement strong, viable and sustainable partnerships and relationships with countries of the world—developed and developing. Stable and vibrant Ethiopia is a key not only for the stability of the otherwise turbulent Horn of Africa but also for the beneficial and mutual relationships with diverse nations and economies. Today, the country boasts a total population of 110 million – the second populous nation in Africa after Nigeria with the median year of 19.5 years. Prior to the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ethiopia has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The robust and dynamic growth performance has improved the country’s capacity to finance its development needs and served as a magnet to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), principally from countries such as China, India, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in 2020 (a midst of COVID-19), Ethiopia was the third-largest recipient of FDI in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), competing with natural resources-rich countries of the region. Interestingly, while most countries of SSA attract FDI to their extractive sectors, Ethiopia’s FDI flows have been destined to the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors of the country. These trends have also redirected international trade away from the traditional developed economies towards newly emerging economies, with China alone absorbing the lion’s share in the country’s imports and exports. These global trends with an increasing shift in economic relations towards the developing South have diminished the role and significance of traditional development partners (USA, UK, and EU). The trends can serve as a signal for these partners to reestablish their relevance and reassert their strategic significance in Ethiopia and the rest of SSA. SSA is the region where developed countries have been ceding their historical significance in FDI and trade flows to China, India, and other emerging economies. Despite declining trade and investment flows between the U.S.A. and Ethiopia, the U.S.A. has been an important source of Official Development Assistance (ODA) particularly to the social (education and health) sectors of Ethiopia. The U.S.A. also provides preferential investment and trade benefits to Ethiopia and several countries of Africa through the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Diaspora remittances have become important sources of financing mega-projects in Ethiopia in addition to supporting household consumption expenditures. Besides financial sources, the transfer of skills and knowledge of the Ethiopian Diaspora is vital for the country’s development. The largest sources of remittances and specific technical and know-how transfers are from the Ethiopian diaspora in the U.S.A. These show the vital supports of the U.S.A. for Ethiopia’s development endeavours and sustain partnerships of the two nations. The engagements in and support of the U.S.A. to Ethiopia’s development efforts are also key to ensure and protect U.S.A.’s broader political, security and economic interests in the region. Ethiopia had also been included to benefit from the US Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) in 2018 when the country was deemed eligible to access MCA resources based on a complex set of criteria consisting of governance, economic freedom, policy, and political stability, among others. Despite ample opportunities to solidify and expand Ethio-U.S.A partnership, the U.S.A. has become a marginal player in Ethiopia’s trade, investment, and finance that may have significant ramifications to the long-term economic and strategic interests of the U.S.A. in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

The way forward

What seems a political stalemate between the U.S.A. and Ethiopia today requires moving beyond traditional discourses and “outside the box” thinking. This includes continuous efforts on both sides to recognize their mutual interests in the global socio-political situations and geo-political landscapes in the Horn of Africa. They must understand their common but differentiated responsibilities in resolving challenges in the political and humanitarian arenas in Ethiopia and defusing regional tensions. The U.S.A. must be an honest and neutral party in finding lasting solutions to internal conflict in Ethiopia and regional tensions. Threats of sanctions or any punitive measures will seriously harm the US interest and undermine its credibility in the Horn of Africa. Likewise, Ethiopia should continue efforts to open up democratic space and modernize its socioeconomic conditions. Such an approach is needed to build mutual trust and consensus between the two countries on issues of common interest, bilateral relations or in dealing with collective global challenges such as international terrorism or global warming. There is an urgent need to seek the best way forward to advance mutually beneficial and collaborative relations. Forward-looking strategies based on mutual respect, interests and common understandings are necessary to foster genuine and mutually beneficial partnerships. Confrontational relationships and punitive measures will dampen opportunities for fostering mutual relationships and legitimize warlords at the expense of state-to-state relations. In this context, the US Senate resolution 97 is misplaced, unwarranted and unhelpful to seek a lasting solution to the instabilities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The resolution instead of addressing the root causes of the crisis has unnecessarily focused on the consequences of the crisis. After all, the U.S.A. is fully aware of the ongoing efforts of the Ethiopian Government, the United Nations, and the broader international community to stabilize the Tigray administrative region, rehabilitate the victims and resettle displaced people. Core issues contained in the resolution such as, “protection of human rights” and “undertaking independent investigation for all allegations” requires expanded support and genuine partnership by the U.S.A. Improving overall governance and resolving conflicts need collaborative relationships not punitive measures or threats of sanctions-targeted or otherwise. The U.S.A. should recognize that what Ethiopia needs more today than ever before is peace and stability as well as sustained improvement in socioeconomic conditions. When these translate into improved aggregate national income and investment in infrastructure and economic transformation, no doubt, Ethiopia offers increased opportunities for market expansion for goods and services and can be an ideal location for investors from across the world, including the U.S.A. The U.S.A. should also recognize that Ethiopia has been the source of a global peacekeeping force through the United Nations. It has been among the few nations contributing to regional peace and stability, including in the global fight against international terrorism in a historically turbulent region of the Horn of Africa. Moreover, Ethiopia is also a diplomatic hub of Africa with its capital-Addis Ababa-hosting several international and regional organizations, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The African Union (AU) is the regional organization, which is the pulse of Africa’s economic, political, and diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. For any nation – superpower or otherwise-forging collaborative relationships with Ethiopia is vital to pursue their respective strategic interest in the African continent. The U.S.A. is not an exception in this.

Conclusions

The current hiccupsin relationships between the U.S.A. and Ethiopia should not put their mutual, beneficial, and vital economic and strategic interests in Africa on a rocky road. Vibrant and stable Ethiopia is vital for the stability of the Horn of Africa and for the protection and promotion of strategic interests of its development partners, including the U.S.A. Therefore, what Ethiopia needs from its traditional development partners such as the U.S.A. is enhanced, expanded and robust financial, technical, diplomatic, and political supports. As much as Ethiopia needs the continued and expanded support of development partners, the country’s principal partners (particularly the USA) also need the progress and stability of Ethiopia as a regional partner. Despite the numerous short-term and medium-term challenges facing Ethiopia, history has shown us that the country can and will bounce back and re-emerge as a viable and dependable partner. The current political and socioeconomic challenges including those related to COVID-19 are temporary stumbles or hurdles, but these are not insurmountable. Therefore, it is vital that the U.S.A. stands by Ethiopia instead of brandishing its economic and strategic might against the country. It is critically important for the U.S.A. to recognize that its relations with Ethiopia are one of the oldest in the African continent not only in terms of diplomatic or state-to-state ties but also people-to-people relations. The ties between the two countries have overcome or withstood the tests of time. They have seen their shares of ups and downs as well as tensions over the last decades. Despite all storms in state-to-state relations, ties between the peoples of Ethiopia and the U.S.A remain solid and beneficial for the two countries. In sum, in spite of the asymmetrical economic, strategic and development paths of the two countries, the relationships between the U.S.A. and Ethiopia have equally been beneficial to both parties. Admittedly, the moral of the US trade and economic supports to Ethiopia has been pro-poor and pro-development. Likewise, Ethiopia is a credible and principled partner of the U.S.A. in the turbulent Horn of Africa. The two countries should revitalize their mutually beneficial engagements and partnerships as they could not afford to ignore or undermine one another.

Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
The Et
hiopian Herald June 19/2021

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