(MENAFN) US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, visited Ethiopia to address the ongoing conflict in the northern Tigray region and discuss the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with Ethiopian leaders. While details of the meeting were not disclosed, Mr Blinken made it clear that the US wants Ethiopia to demonstrate progress in implementing a deal to end the Tigray conflict before normalizing relations. The US is also urging Ethiopia to reach a legally binding agreement with downstream Egypt over the filling and operation of the GERD.
Egypt and Sudan have been in talks with Ethiopia for almost a decade to reach an agreement on the GERD. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi reiterated to Mr Blinken the necessity of reaching a legally binding deal during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington in December last year. The dam has been a contentious issue between Egypt and Ethiopia as Egypt fears the GERD could affect its water supply from the Nile River.
During his visit to Ethiopia, Mr Blinken met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to discuss continuing efforts to solidify peace, restore basic services, and address humanitarian needs in the northern Tigray region. However, Mr Blinken stopped short of reinstating Ethiopia back into a US trade program. Ethiopia must ensure “there are no ongoing gross violations of human rights” and establish an “inclusive and credible” transitional justice process before any economic engagement can resume, according to Mr Blinken.
The US has previously expressed concerns about the ongoing conflict in Tigray, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement of over two million people. The US has called for an end to the fighting and an investigation into human rights abuses. The conflict began in November 2020 when Ethiopian forces launched a military operation against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which previously controlled the region. The fighting has escalated since then, with reports of atrocities committed by all sides.
The visit by Mr Blinken is seen as an effort by the US to strengthen ties with Ethiopia, which is a key ally in the Horn of Africa region. However, the US is also urging Ethiopia to address human rights issues and the GERD dispute to ensure regional stability. The outcome of Mr Blinken's talks with Ethiopian leaders will be closely watched by Egypt and other countries in the region.
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