Egypt Escalates War of Words Over Ethiopia’s Nile Dam Project

Addis Ababa — Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia heightened on Monday after Cairo threaten Addis Ababa in connection with its first dam project along the Blue Nile.

Egypt, which has long been opposing the construction of the $4.8 billion dam, said it will not tolerate any attempt by the horn of Africa’s nation that diminishes its water share.

Addressing to Egyptians on a live televised speech, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi warned that his country is ready to confront any threat that would endanger the country’s water security.

“Egypt’s water security cannot be violated at all,” said Morsi.

“As president of the state, I confirm to you that all options are open.”

The Egyptian president however said that he is not calling for war but warned that he would not allow any type of threats against water security.

Who Will Win Over Nile, Egypt or Ethiopia?

June 13, 2013

by Seyoum Teshome Akele

The Nile case has again started becoming hot among riparian nations, particularly Egypt and Ethiopia, and somehow Sudan, too. This is not the first time we (Ethiopians) happened to witness this kind of superfluous confrontation as well as naïve ownership claim, especially by Egypt, not fully understanding yet the nature and complexity of River Nile, like any other shared international rivers. The first being some 8 or so years back. And the second was again in 2009/10 when most of the upstream countries, including Ethiopia, signed the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) towards creating a more equitable share (and ownership) in using and managing the Nile waters even if it had been really dragged as Egypt kept using different techniques to its deferment.

Congressional Hearing on Ethiopia; Berhanu Nega Invited as Witness

SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING NOTICE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, DC 20515-6128

Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman
TO: MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
You are respectfully requested to attend an OPEN hearing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to be held by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building (and available live on the Committee website at www.foreignaffairs.house.gov):
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 2013 TIME: 10:00 a.m.
SUBJECT: Ethiopia After Meles: The Future of Democracy and Human Rights
WITNESSES: Panel I
The Honorable Donald Y. Yamamoto
Acting Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State
The Honorable Earl W. Gast
Assistant Administrator

June 5th, 2013: Ethiopian Canadians Held a Protest Rally in Ottawa

June 7, 2013

by Mintesnot Zewde Berhane, Toronto, Canada

Ethiopian Canadians gathered in the early morning of June 5th, 2013 from the two ends of the City of Toronto to join their compatriots in Ottawa in hundreds to protest against the series of human rights violation by the ever increasingly tyrant government of Ethiopia.

Amid the demonstrating crowd in the capital which is also a touristic destination for many, bystanders were very surprised to see Muslims and Christians side by side protesting the lack of freedom of religion, ethnic cleansing in different part of Ethiopia, the genocide and the land grab in Ethiopia, the crackdown against journalists and political dissidents, as well as the vendetta against their religious and political leaders.

A Truly Inspiring Political Step that Has to Be Taken Seriously

June 9, 2013

by T.Goshu, June 2013

1. I want make myself clear that what I am trying to reflect in this piece of writing is just to express my impression about the peaceful demonstration which I strongly believe was and is a very big eye-opener after eight years of  incredible level of fear and silence. I am also trying to forward my points of view on the question of how to keep the momentum not only moving forward but also a success story as far as a very challenging peaceful struggle being re-launched is concerned. The very purpose of mentioning the comment by truly concerned commentators, including a highly respected and qualified is to express my observation on the way they try to express the inspiring aspect of the event. It is not my intention either to engage in kind of good for nothing   counter- argument or to invite unnecessary dialogue that may derail our focus on the issue of how we should keep the very encouraging political movement going towards the goal we desperately aspired. This said; let me proceed to my comment and points of view.

Ethiopia: Rise of the Blue Cheetahs!

June 10, 2013

by Alemayehu G. Mariam

Just feeling proud and blue all over

“Everyday, everyday I have the blues” sang B.B. King on his faithful guitar Lucille. Everyday, everyday for the last eight years I’ve had the blues, the “193/763 Blues”. “Ain’t gonna stop until the twenty-fifth hour, ‘Cause now I’m living on blues power,” belted out Eric Clapton. I am feeling blue power too!

I am blue and happy as a blue lark. I mean blue as in the Blue Party (Semayawi Party) of young people in Ethiopia. They chose blue to symbolize their ideals of unity, peace and hope in Ethiopia. Just like U.N. blue for all nations united in peace and hope for the future. Like European Union blue, over two dozen states working for a more perfect economic and political union. Like Ethiopian blue — all Ethiopia united, peaceful and hopeful in the Twenty-first Century. Go Blues! Onward!