Ethiopia seeks US clarification on reported aid cut over damADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — An Ethiopian diplomat says his country has asked the United States for clarification on a report that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has approved cutting up to $130 million in aid to Ethiopia because of the country’s dispute with Egypt and Sudan over a massive dam it is building on the Blue Nile. Fitsum Arega, Ethiopia’s ambassador to the U.S., tweeted Monday saying he has heard the aid cut is related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and that the clarification is expected from the U.S. later Monday. Ethiopia says the $4.6 billion dam will be an engine of development that will pull millions of people out of poverty. Pope Francis recently urged Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to continue talks amid regional concerns that the dispute could lead to military conflict. Ethiopia had said it would fill the dam with or without a deal with Egypt and Sudan.

Source: Ethiopian News August 31, 2020 12:56 UTC