Is Morsi serious about his stance of “water with our blood”? By Terefe Masresha June 13, 2013 The dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia concerned with the latter’s Grand Renaissance dam has now new reached new heights with increasing intimidation and threats aimed at maintaining Egypt’s “historical rights” to use the lion’s share of the Nile waters. Egypt is aggressively defending its interests and is expressing concern about reduced water quantity. Regrettably, there is very little statement from Ethiopia except the brief diplomatically loaded language issued by the Spokes Person of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So far, the Foreign Minister or the Prime Minister has said very little. Is it an acceptable diplomatic tactic in view of what is at stake? Egypt is trying to justify its cause for concern and alarm by issuing conflicting statements veering from diplomacy to what is beginning to seem a declaration of war. The international media is reporting from Egypt with voices of ordinary citizens who say that their country will become a desert if the flow of water from Nile is reduced because of the construction of Ethiopia’s dam. The views of Egyptians are based on the understanding that “Egypt is the gift of the Nile’. However, most of their opinion about Ethiopia in relation to the Nile is influenced by propaganda that has been instilled in Egyptian’s hearts and minds for generations. In what seems to be an act of living to the same legacy, Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi said on Monday June 11 he would be willing to approach opposition groups in order to unite Egyptians around a common position with regard to the dam. Given the high level of emotion around the issue and the rhetoric concerning the importance of the Nile to Egypt, the President will not have a difficult task. What about Ethiopia’s leaders? How do they relate to the majority of Ethiopians who are disillusioned because of the government’s failure to deliver on equality, justice and rule of law? The Government of Ethiopia is managing Egypt’s reaction to the construction of the dam with disturbing silence. The few statements that have been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are weak and do not match Egypt’s aggressive public relations approach. Against this background, it is important to raise the following questions: a) Is Ethiopia’s current communication and diplomatic approach a sign of weakness or has the government opted for quiet diplomacy? b) Is there adequate preparedness to thwart any direct and indirect aggression which could humiliate our country? c) What is the government doing to mobilize public opinion to ensure support in case of an outright destructive approach by Egypt? d) Is the government sure that the public is completely behind it to defend the country from an attack? e) Can it rely on the support of Sudan to prevent any threat on the dam? The answers to the above questions are found in the political malaise that currently grips Ethiopia. The Government of Ethiopia needs to take immediate action to respect human rights and release all political prisoners who are considered prisoners of conscience by Ethiopians and the international community. Furthermore, it needs to instil a spirit of unity and dignity within the public. A majority of Ethiopians are alienated because of the misguided polices the EPRDF has been following over the past 22 years. Despite claims of continued economic growth and progress made in infrastructure development, there is widespread discontent about the lack of tangible benefits. This is exacerbated by unemployment, under employment, the high cost of living and the amassing of wealth by cronies of the EPRDF largely through corrupt practices. All of these trigger anger and frustration within the public, which is invariably forced to doubt government intentions, plans and achievements. In an article posted on nazret (Dispelling the Curse of the Nile), I stated that Ethiopia and the spirit with which we hold our nationality is much bigger than the issues which divide us. The path of division, character assassination, blind faith, and the ‘what is in it for me’ attitude will not facilitate our emergence from the quagmire that we are in. The increasing threat by Egypt, if realized, could further deepen the crisis we are in and could even cause irreversible damage. We need to note that a call for unity isn’t a call for inaction against the undemocratic practices of the government or an attempt to reconcile irreconcilable differences. What is suggested is to unite around key national issues that could affect all Ethiopians regardless of political persuasion. We, therefore, need to take action to get our united voice heard in various forums. The actions that are being taken by the government aren’t reassuring. We have unalienable right to be involved in the affairs of our country, particularly when there is a potential external aggression. This is not a responsibility we can delegate to a government we do not support because it’s wrong polices and poor performance in the political, economic and social arena. We need to take action now against Egypt’s propaganda campaign through objective analysis of the developing situation; the current state of our country and getting our untied voice heard loud and clear to guarantee the long-term interests of Ethiopia. If we don’t act now, it might be too late when we decide to act. The view that Egypt is currently embroiled in its own crisis and isn’t in any position to take drastic overt or covert military action against the dam is wishful thinking. Ethiopia should not adopt such a position. Our collective responsibility must be to think the unthinkable and to brace ourselves for any eminent danger that the curse of the Nile could expose the country. We must take Morsi seriously on his words, because his views aren’t moribund in Egypt.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:05:59 +0000
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