A stark challenge has been issued, a direct response to a renewed attempt at intervention in the fate of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). This isn’t simply a dispute over water; it’s a confrontation over sovereignty, a challenge to the lingering shadows of colonial influence, and a demand for respect on the African continent.
The Nile, a lifeline for numerous nations, has long been subject to imbalances of power, with Egypt historically wielding disproportionate influence over its waters due to agreements forged in a different era. The GERD represents a potential turning point – a chance for upstream African nations to collaboratively harness their resources, committed to responsible development without causing harm.
The United States’ involvement is not that of an impartial mediator. Decades of strategic partnership with Egypt, fueled by military aid and political alignment, create an inherent bias. Any attempt at mediation from Washington is viewed, with justified skepticism, as a continuation of external pressure designed to preserve the existing order.
For Ethiopia, this intervention strikes at the heart of national identity and the pursuit of self-determination. The GERD is a domestically funded, independently constructed project, negotiated on African terms through platforms like the African Union. External interference threatens to derail this progress and establish a dangerous precedent – a requirement for Western approval for African development.
Egypt’s reliance on external diplomacy, meanwhile, delays crucial internal reforms in water management and reinforces a sense of entitlement to a shared resource. It transforms a regional issue into an international one, hindering constructive engagement with upstream nations through established African channels.
This is a rejection of a troubling pattern: the marginalization of African solutions, the persistence of outdated colonial assumptions, and the framing of African development as a security concern rather than a matter of fundamental rights. It is a plea for recognition – respect for sovereignty, for African institutions, and for the futures of those most directly impacted.
The letter begins with a firm declaration: mediation is unwanted. It emphasizes that the dam wasn’t built with American funds, ideas, or labor, but with the sacrifices of Ethiopian citizens. The GERD is not a bargaining chip, but a testament to the collective will of a nation.
Previous claims of U.S. funding are dismissed as demonstrably false and deeply insulting. This isn’t merely a factual correction; it’s a rebuke of a disregard for truth and a blatant disrespect for Ethiopian sovereignty. The nation built the dam independently and requires neither fictional financing nor fabricated mediation.
Egypt’s water woes are attributed to its own mismanagement, citing significant water loss through evaporation and the prioritization of unsustainable projects. The letter accuses Egypt of jealousy and a desire to stifle Ethiopian progress rather than address its own inefficiencies.
The GERD is presented as a symbol of African achievement, a beacon of self-reliance and vision. Egypt’s inconsistent identification – sometimes as an Arab nation, sometimes as African – is highlighted, emphasizing its reluctance to embrace continental solutions through the African Union.
The framing of the GERD as a “regional security issue” is condemned as a reckless provocation. It’s a development project, not a weapon, and threats of military confrontation are dismissed as historically ignorant and a diplomatic ploy. Ethiopia’s historical military successes against Egypt are pointedly referenced.
The previous U.S. mediation attempt is labeled a biased failure, characterized by open support for Egypt, ultimatums, and falsehoods. The administration’s disregard for multilateral norms, unless they align with its interests, is also criticized.
The African Union is declared the only legitimate forum for resolving this matter, advocating for a conversation led by Africans, for Africans. The demand is clear: Washington must step aside and respect Africa’s right to self-governance.
A powerful message is extended to all Africans: the GERD is a symbol of continental potential, a testament to what can be achieved through unity and self-determination. It’s a call to denounce disrespect towards the African Union and reject all external interference.
The letter concludes with a resolute statement of independence. The GERD was built as a sovereign right, not to appease external powers or negotiate its existence. It’s a demand for non-interference and a call for respect for African agency.
The final plea is direct and uncompromising: stay out of African affairs, and stay out of Africa. It is signed not as a representative of government, but as a patriot speaking on behalf of the Ethiopian people.
