"They tied us with a long rope to prevent us".. Abiy Ahmed talks about "pressures" on Ethiopia in building the Renaissance Dam

- The Ethiopian Parliament reappointed Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister for a second term on Monday during the government formation session, where he spoke about what he called the "pressures faced by his country in building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam," according to the Ethiopian News Agency "ENA." Following his appointment, Abiy Ahmed took the oath of office, signaling the start of his second term after the recent elections and the formation of a new government in Ethiopia.

He confirmed after taking the oath that "Ethiopia is fully prepared to effectively confront and repel threats directed against the country," pledging that "the leadership of the state will remain firmly committed to protecting Ethiopia's national interests and moving forward to achieve its aspirations," as reported by ENA. Abiy Ahmed stated that the country has now learned from those experiences and has made the necessary preparations to face challenges and what he described as "hostile actions" directed against Ethiopia.

He added that "Ethiopia also faced pressures while asserting its right to use the waters of its rivers and completing the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam," according to his claims. Abiy Ahmed said: "When they pulled a long rope to prevent us from completing our dam, we stumbled, but we did not fall, and we will not fall," as he described, and according to ENA.

He continued by saying that "these experiences have proven Ethiopia's ability to withstand obstacles and continue striving to achieve its national goals." The Prime Minister clarified that "Ethiopia's long-term pursuit of ensuring reliable access to the sea remains a major national priority."

Abiy Ahmed stated: "We will work tirelessly to ensure that Ethiopia has a seaport," reiterating the government's commitment to continue striving for this goal. The Ethiopian Prime Minister framed this issue within the "broader aspirations of Ethiopia," saying that "the country should not be content with transforming itself, but should aspire to become a nation capable of contributing to transformation beyond its borders," according to ENA.

Last year, Ethiopia officially opened the largest hydropower dam in Africa, a project that will provide energy to millions of Ethiopians, while deepening the dispute that has destabilized the region with Egypt. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was built on the Blue Nile, the most important tributary of the Nile River, and has been generating electricity for 3 years.

Ethiopia has suffered from internal conflict for years, and experts say this dam has been a real source of unity for the country. But Egypt, located at the river's mouth, is concerned.

The Nile is the lifeblood of Egypt, and since it is mostly a desert country, its population relies on the Nile River for about 90% of their fresh water. Egypt now fears that the new dam will lead to a water shortage.

Sudan, Ethiopia's neighbor, also fears a disruption in its water supply and has joined Egypt's calls for binding agreements on the dam's filling and operation. At the same time, Ethiopia has repeatedly stated that the dam does not pose a threat and will continue to provide a steady water supply.