What Bibi's Africa visit means for Egypt-Ethiopia dam dispute
As Israel increases its influence with African countries, Egyptians are wondering what impact that could have on them, the Renaissance Dam negotiations and the Palestinian solution.
CAIRO — During the first official visit by an Israeli prime minister to the African continent since Yitzhak Shamir’s in 1987, Benjamin Netanyahu embarked on a tour beginning July 4 with a visit to Uganda, followed by Kenya and Rwanda, and concluding with Ethiopia. He was accompanied by a delegation of 80 officials representing more than 50 Israeli companies.
Netanyahu’s visit to a number of countries in the Nile River basin has stirred up curiosity in Egypt concerning the goals of this visit. In particular, some are questioning the timing, which coincides with the approaching conclusion of construction on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which precipitated a crisis between Cairo and Ethiopia. Egypt said the dam threatens to reduce Egypt’s historic share of the Nile River waters, which are estimated at 55.5 billion cubic meters (14.7 trillion gallons) annually.
