Ethiopian Official Refutes Trump's Claims on Nile Dam Funding

In a recent dispute, an Ethiopian official has firmly rejected former President Donald Trump’s assertion that U.S. funds were involved in the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), emphasizing that the project was entirely financed domestically.

In a strong rebuttal to Donald Trump's comments regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), an Ethiopian official has clarified that the country's ambitious mega-dam project on the River Nile was financed solely through government resources and public contributions. The statement comes after Trump claimed that the dam, a significant source of national pride and Africa's largest hydroelectric plant, was built "with United States money." Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the GERD Coordination Office, labeled Trump's remarks as "false and destructive," urging a more diplomatic handling of the situation. Despite concerns raised by Egypt and Sudan related to water flow disruption, Ethiopia remains committed to utilizing the dam for critical electricity generation, addressing the needs of a population where approximately 60% lack reliable power. As the GERD aims to boost Ethiopia's energy production, available funding primarily relied on the country's citizens' support rather than foreign aid, reaffirming national efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in energy resources.