Washington (Horn post) Former U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to step in and mediate the long-running dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the waters of the Nile River.
In a statement made public on Friday, Trump announced his readiness to revive U.S.-led mediation efforts aimed at resolving what he described as the sensitive issue of “sharing the waters of the Nile” between Cairo and Addis Ababa. He conveyed the message in a letter addressed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, which he also shared on his Truth Social account.
“I am ready to re-engage United States mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia in order to responsibly resolve the Nile water-sharing issue once and for all,” Trump wrote.
The dispute has intensified following the inauguration of Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Addis Ababa on September 9, a move that sparked strong reactions from Egypt, one of the downstream countries dependent on the Nile.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation with an estimated 120 million people, has invested around $5 billion in the GERD project, which it considers central to its national development and economic ambitions.
Egypt, however, argues that the dam violates international agreements and poses serious risks, including potential droughts and flooding that could threaten its water security. Ethiopia has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that the dam will not cause significant harm to downstream states.
Trump has previously praised President al-Sisi and has shown public sympathy toward Egypt’s concerns over Nile waters. His remarks come against the backdrop of earlier diplomatic engagement with Cairo, including a visit to Egypt in October linked to discussions surrounding the Gaza situation.
The Nile water dispute remains one of the most complex and politically sensitive issues in the Horn of Africa and Northeast Africa, with regional and international actors closely watching any renewed mediation efforts.
Prepared by:
Horn Post Staff Reporter
