Latest news with #FikrteTamir
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
African nation hits out at Trump over mega-dam claim
Ethiopia has rejected US President Donald Trump's claims that Washington funded a multibillion-dollar hydropower dam that the East African country has built on the Blue Nile, calling the statement false and 'destructive.' Trump repeatedly said at a White House dinner with Republican senators last Friday that Ethiopia constructed the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) 'largely' with US money. 'It doesn't allow much water going into the Nile River. So you can imagine Egypt's not thrilled because, they live off the Nile River,' he said. The president also claimed in a post on his Truth Social online platform last month that the 'massive' dam, 'stupidly financed' by the US, 'substantially reduces the water flowing' into the Nile River. However, on Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the GERD Coordination Office, told reporters that the project had been completed 'without any foreign aid.' She said that over its 14-year construction period, it was financed entirely through government resources and public contributions, including salary deductions and donations from the diaspora. 'Regarding the remarks made by US President Donald Trump, the Ethiopian government should respond diplomatically and wisely,' Fikrte added. The landlocked country's government announced the completion of the GERD earlier this month. The facility has been under construction since 2011 and is designed to generate up to 5.15 gigawatts of electricity, making it the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa. The project was initially scheduled for completion within six years on a $4 billion budget. On Tuesday, the GERD Coordination Office announced that 1.7 billion birr (about $12.3 million) has been raised from the public alone during the 2024/25 Ethiopian fiscal year. The project, which Addis Ababa sees as a transformative energy source for the region and a symbol of 'regional cooperation and mutual benefit,' has long been a source of dispute. Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly voiced concerns over its impact on downstream water flows. The Nile reportedly provides approximately 97% of Egypt's supply of fresh water. Both Cairo and Khartoum fear that upstream water retention could severely affect agriculture and water security in their countries.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethiopian official denies Donald Trump's claim that US funded River Nile dam
An Ethiopian official has denied Donald Trump's claim that the United States helped fund Ethiopia's new megadam on the River Nile, saying it is false and "destructive". Last week, President Trump said the controversial dam was built "with United States money, largely". Officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the project is Africa's biggest hydro-electric plant and a major source of pride for Ethiopians. Over the 14 years it has taken to complete Gerd, the Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly said that the dam was funded by the government, along with contributions from the Ethiopian people. The dam has, however, angered Egypt and Sudan, which lie upstream on the River Nile and fear the dam could lead to less water flowing into their countries. The BBC has asked the White House to expand on Trump's comments. On Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Coordination Office, dismissed Trump's remarks, saying the dam was built "without any foreign aid". Why is Egypt worried about Ethiopia's dam on the Nile? How Ethiopia was 'betrayed' over Nile dam Ethiopia's pop stars weigh in on Gerd row Although technically an independent body, the Gerd Coordination Office was set up by the government to mobilise resources for the dam. "Regarding what Donald Trump claimed, the government should respond with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures," Ms Fikrte said. Following Ms Fikrte's comments, some Ethiopians have questioned how privy the Gerd Coordination Office would be to any potential deal between the government and the US, given its independent status. Ethiopia's government has not responded to Trump's comments about funding the dam, which began generating electricity in 2022 and was fully completed earlier this month. It is not the first time Trump has claimed US involvement in Gerd. Last month, in a post on his Truth Social online platform, the president said the dam was "stupidly financed by the United States of America" and "substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River". Trump was referring to concerns from Egypt and Sudan that the megadam would disrupt the flow of water they get from the River Nile. More than a mile long and 145m high, Gerd lies on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the River Nile's waters flow. Ethiopia wants the dam to produce desperately needed electricity, as the majority of its population - about 60% - have no supply. But the construction of Gerd has led to tensions with Egypt - an ally of the Trump administration - and Sudan. Initially scheduled to be completed within six years with a $4bn (£2.9bn) budget, Gerd generated excitement among the Ethiopian public. The authorities capitalised on this interest to raise money for the dam - bonds were sold to companies, employees pledged deductions from their salaries and Ethiopia's huge diaspora sent in donations. Despite the project running significantly behind schedule, and consequently overbudget, it has continued to draw contributions. Since 1 April this year, 1.7 billion birr ($12.3 million; £9.1 million) have been collected from the public, the Gerd Coordination Office says. You may also be interested in: Dam plan busted? World's biggest hydropower project in the balance The spectacular failures and successes of massive dams Who benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ethiopian official denies Donald Trump's claim that US funded Gerd - the River Nile dam
An Ethiopian official has denied Donald Trump's claim that the United States helped fund Ethiopia's new megadam on the River Nile, saying it is false and "destructive". Last week, President Trump said the controversial dam was built "with United States money, largely".Officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the project is Africa's biggest hydro-electric plant and a major source of pride for the 14 years it has taken to complete Gerd, the Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly said that the dam was funded by the government, along with contributions from the Ethiopian people. The dam has, however, angered Egypt and Sudan, which lie upstream on the River Nile and fear the dam could lead to less water flowing into their BBC has asked the White House to expand on Trump's Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Coordination Office, dismissed Trump's remarks, saying the dam was built "without any foreign aid".Why is Egypt worried about Ethiopia's dam on the Nile?How Ethiopia was 'betrayed' over Nile damEthiopia's pop stars weigh in on Gerd rowAlthough technically an independent body, the Gerd Coordination Office was set up by the government to mobilise resources for the dam."Regarding what Donald Trump claimed, the government should respond with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures," Ms Fikrte Ms Fikrte's comments, some Ethiopians have questioned how privy the Gerd Coordination Office would be to any potential deal between the government and the US, given its independent government has not responded to Trump's comments about funding the dam, which began generating electricity in 2022 and was fully completed earlier this is not the first time Trump has claimed US involvement in Gerd. Last month, in a post on his Truth Social online platform, the president said the dam was "stupidly financed by the United States of America" and "substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River".Trump was referring to concerns from Egypt and Sudan that the megadam would disrupt the flow of water they get from the River than a mile long and 145m high, Gerd lies on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the River Nile's waters wants the dam to produce desperately needed electricity, as the majority of its population - about 60% - have no the construction of Gerd has led to tensions with Egypt - an ally of the Trump administration - and scheduled to be completed within six years with a $4bn (£2.9bn) budget, Gerd generated excitement among the Ethiopian public. The authorities capitalised on this interest to raise money for the dam - bonds were sold to companies, employees pledged deductions from their salaries and Ethiopia's huge diaspora sent in the project running significantly behind schedule, and consequently overbudget, it has continued to draw 1 April this year, 1.7 billion birr ($12.3 million; £9.1 million) have been collected from the public, the Gerd Coordination Office says. You may also be interested in: Dam plan busted? World's biggest hydropower project in the balanceThe spectacular failures and successes of massive damsWho benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
