This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
US President Donald Trump has pledged his support for Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam, a $4 billion project that has been at the center of a diplomatic row between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.
According to Ethiopian Minister for Water and Irrigation Sileshi Bekele, President Trump made the comments during US-mediated talks aimed at resolving the dispute over the sharing of the River Nile's waters.
The talks, which took place in the US, resulted in an agreement to hold further discussions and reach a final settlement by January 15, 2020.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Sileshi said that President Trump had expressed his desire to attend the inauguration of the dam, stating that he would 'cut the ribbon' with the three countries.
However, a joint statement issued by the US Treasury Department did not mention any plans by the US president to open the dam.
The Grand Renaissance Dam, expected to be completed next year, is a key component of Ethiopia's manufacturing and industrial dreams, with the potential to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity when fully operational.
However, Egypt has expressed concerns that the project will allow Ethiopia to control the flow of the River Nile, Africa's longest river.
