This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
On November 6, 2019, US President Donald Trump hosted a meeting at the White House with representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
The $4 billion hydro-electric dam, one of the largest in the world, has been a source of contention between the three countries, with Egypt expressing concerns that it could drastically disrupt the Nile, which provides 90 percent of the country's drinking water.
According to Trump, the meeting 'went well,' and discussions will continue throughout the day. He tweeted, "Just had a meeting with top representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to help solve their long running dispute on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, one of the largest in the world. The meeting went well and discussions will continue during the day!"
The Nile is a vital source of water and electricity for the 10 countries it traverses, and analysts fear that the dispute over the dam could escalate into a conflict if not resolved before it begins operating in 2022.
Egypt had called for international mediation after discussions between the three countries broke down earlier this year.
