U.S. President Donald J. Trump has offered to restart American mediation between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to resolve the long-standing dispute over the Nile River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), according to a letter addressed to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The proposed U.S. approach seeks to guarantee “predictable water releases during droughts and prolonged dry years” for downstream nations Egypt and Sudan. Simultaneously, the framework would allow Ethiopia to generate “very substantial amounts of electricity,” some of which Trump suggested could be given or sold to its neighbors. “I believe that with the right technical expertise, fair and transparent negotiations, and a strong United States role in monitoring and coordinating between parties, we can achieve a lasting agreement for all Nile Basin Nations,” Trump wrote. The letter also commended President Al-Sisi for his “leadership in successfully mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas” and for managing security and humanitarian challenges since 7 October 2023.

Source: Ethiopian News January 16, 2026 20:45 UTC