The United States announced Wednesday, September 2, the suspension of part of its financial assistance to Ethiopia due to "the lack of progress" in negotiations with Egypt and Sudan over the mega- dam built by Addis Ababa on the Nile.

"Due to Ethiopia's unilateral decision to fill the Renaissance Grand Dam (Gerd) without an agreement with Egypt and Sudan," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on instructions from President Donald Trump, " has decided to temporarily suspend part of the aid to Ethiopia, "said a spokesman for US diplomacy.

He did not specify how much money was affected, or the length of the suspension.

"The United States is increasingly concerned about the lack of progress in negotiations on a trilateral agreement on the filling and management of the Gerd," he added in a statement to AFP.

Resolve disputes

Addis Ababa believes that this structure is essential to its economic development and electrification, while Khartoum and Cairo fear that the future largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, 145 meters high, will restrict their access to water.

Sudan and Egypt also insist that an agreement "must include a mechanism to resolve any disputes that may arise" between the three countries.

So far, Ethiopia has refused a possible mechanism, considering that the dam - construction of which began in 2011 - belongs to it.

Multiple ministerial meetings between the three countries have so far failed to reach an agreement, including a series of meetings held in Washington under the aegis of the US government.

Sudan on Saturday proposed a summit of leaders to break the deadlock, again noted during a new session of talks in late August.

Washington's concern

Addis Ababa carried out the first phase of filling the dam reservoir this year, to a level allowing the first two turbines to be tested, a crucial step for it to start producing energy.

Washington explained that the suspension of aid reflected its "concern" about this decision, believing that an infill "before all the security measures are in place" posed "serious risks to the populations of the countries downstream" .

"Carrying out the filling while negotiations were underway undermines the confidence of other parties," added the State Department spokesman, accusing the Ethiopian government of not having honored its "commitments" to await the outcome. discussions led by the African Union.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Washington Fitsum Arega said on Facebook on Tuesday that he had received assurances that any reduction in US aid would be "temporary".

"The dam is ours. We will finish it thanks to our efforts," he said.

With AFP

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