United States suspends aid to Ethiopia over Nile dam crisis with Egypt

WASHINGTON – The United States of America has decided to suspend its annual aid to the Ethiopian government over its dispute on mega Nile Dam with Egypt which has also led to disagreements with Sudan, the Bloomberg reports.

The Trump administration is increasingly concerned about the lack of progress on trilateral negotiations, according to a State Department official who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the matter and asked not to be identified.

The U.S. government is working with the three countries to facilitate an agreement that balances their interests, the official said.

Egypt, which depends on the Nile for most of its fresh-water needs, is opposed to any development it says will impact the flow downstream — a position echoed by Sudan.

Ethiopia is developing a 6,000-megawatt power plant at the dam, and has asserted a right to use the resource for its development.