Addis Ababa’s accusations against Cairo on the “colonial monopoly” of the Nile and the dispute over the Red Sea reignite tension in the Horn of Africa, alarming Ankara
Tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt are rising again. Addis Ababa has in fact accused Cairo of destabilizing the Horn of Africa with the precise aim of maintaining a “colonial” monopoly on the Nile River. “Some Egyptian officials, influenced by a colonial mentality, continue to believe they have a monopoly on the waters of the Nile and cite obsolete colonial treaties to assert these alleged rights,” Ethiopia thundered, referring to Egypt’s rights to the waters of the historic river.
Needless to say, the tensions between the two countries are linked, once again, to the dam that Ethiopia inaugurated last September on the Blue Nile. At the time, Egypt lodged a formal protest with the United Nations Security Council, branding the construction of the water project an “illegal unilateral act,” before adding that “any misconception that Cairo would turn a blind eye to its own existential interests would be pure illusion.” Egypt also blamed the dam for floods in Sudan. “Ethiopia has no obligation to ask anyone for permission to use the natural resources within its borders,” declared Addis Ababa, thus confirming a stormy relationship with the government of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
But that’s not all. Beyond the dam issue, Cairo and Addis Ababa are also at loggerheads over the Red Sea. “The governance of the Red Sea remains an original and exclusive issue of the states bordering it, since they are responsible for safeguarding its security, stability and sustainability of resources, so as to strengthen the common interests of their peoples and enshrine the principle of regional ownership in the management of its affairs,” declared Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty last October. Second The Arab Weeklythese words were aimed mainly at Ethiopia, which, in the context of growing tensions with Eritrea, is trying to acquire an outlet on the Red Sea.
In short, instability in the Horn of Africa risks increasing. A worrying scenario, which especially alarms Turkey. In fact, let’s not forget that, in recent months, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has carved out a role of mediation between Somalia and Ethiopia, precisely to avoid the possibility that an armed conflict could break out in the region. On the other hand, Ankara has ties and agreements with both Mogadishu and Addis Ababa. A situation that certainly does not lead to an increase in instability within the Horn of Africa.
