Is Morsi serious about his stance of “water with our blood”?

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.com (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.