Somali President: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project is massive and will impact the region

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud said that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project is "huge and will impact the entire region," stressing that his country's relationship with Ethiopia does not affect its partnership with Egypt.

In an interview with Al Arabiya/Al Hadath, he added that Cairo supports Somalia by training Somali forces and providing logistical support. Regarding regional tensions, the president ruled out the possibility of a war between Eritrea and Ethiopia, describing the rumours circulating in this regard as "mere rumours."

He also stressed that Somalia's relationship with Saudi Arabia is "historic and spans centuries," noting that his country is keen to develop this strategic partnership.

Protracted crisis

It's worth noting that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the dam last Tuesday, nearly 14 years after construction began, making it a tangible reality that further intensifies the dispute with Egypt and Sudan.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a source of intense disagreement between Egypt and Ethiopia. Cairo insists on applying international law to the Nile River, asserting that it will not allow the imposition of a fait accompli and that it reserves the right to take any necessary measures, in accordance with the UN Charter, to protect the water and "existential" interests of its people.

Egypt also believes that the failure of the negotiations is due to Ethiopia's insistence, over the years, on rejecting any technical or legal solutions that would guarantee the interests of the three countries (Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia), in addition to its reneging on previous understandings that could have ended the crisis.

رئيس الصومال: مشروع سد النهضة ضخم وسيؤثر على المنطقة

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