For more than a century, Ethiopia and the United States have maintained one of Africa’s most important diplomatic relationships. The partnership has been built around security cooperation, development, humanitarian assistance, economic engagement, and a shared interest in peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. Like many long-standing relationships, however, it has faced difficult moments. The Ogaden War, from 1976 to 1977, in which the U.S ceased the sale of arms to Ethiopia in favor of Somalia. This was a classic as of Cold War geopolitics. More recently the conflict in northern Ethiopia that began in November 2020 created one…
Author: Kiya Negash
Kiya Negash
Content creator, advocate, and founder of Addis Paradigm, promoting dialogue on Ethiopia and global affairs. She is a founding member of Defend Ethiopia Task Force Italy and serves on the Steering Committee of Defend Ethiopia Task Force Europe. Her work focuses on Ethiopia’s national interests, public engagement, and constructive dialogue.
Egypt’s latest warning over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam once again frames Ethiopia’s actions as unacceptable and unlawful. Yet that argument leaves out the most important part of the story. Ethiopia is not seeking control over the Nile or attempting to deny water to downstream countries. It is exercising what every sovereign nation expects for itself: the right to use its own natural resources to reduce poverty, generate electricity, and build a stronger economy. The debate over the GERD is therefore about much more than a dam. It is about whether upstream countries have the same right to development that…