The Middle East Research and Future Studies Center held its first scientific conference for the 2024-2025 cultural season entitled “Ethiopian Policies and Their Impact on Africa”.
It featured the participation of Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of African Studies at Cairo University, Mahmoud Zakaria, and the center’s Director Hatem al-Abd, alongside a large number of Egyptian and Arab researchers.
The conference was held under the patronage of the President of Ain Shams University, Mohamed Diaa Zein al-Abedin, and the Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs and Chairperson of the Center’s Board of Directors, Ghada Farouk.
Abd suggested closely studying Ethiopian policies due to their consequences and impacts on Egyptian and African national security, especially in regards to water policies.
Ethiopia’s water policies a ‘flagrant violation’
He stressed that Ethiopia’s water policies are a flagrant violation of international laws and norms, a breach of the provisions of international laws, and a violation of the agreements and treaties concluded regarding the Nile waters – which oblige the upstream countries not to build dams or take any measures that would affect the shares of the downstream countries (Egypt and Sudan) in the Nile waters.
Egypt has always supported all development efforts in African countries, Abd explained, but added that it will stand against any measures that would affect its share in the Nile waters, which are historical rights that should not be touched in any way.
Turmoil within Ethiopia
Zakaria reviewed the political scene inside Ethiopia and the succession of ruling regimes in the Ethiopian state, and the escalation of confrontations between the Ethiopian government led by Abiy Ahmed and the opposition groups of various orientations.
Abiy Ahmed deliberately creates international crises to distract the people from internal crises and conflicts, he said.
Ethiopia has adopted policies that will affect national security in the Middle East, he explained, especially Egypt, such as concluding a memorandum of understanding with the separatist region of Somaliland and recognizing its independence from the state of Somalia and its sovereignty in order to have an outlet on the Red Sea.
Somalia is located in the strategic depth of Egyptian national security at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, Zakaria noted, which necessitates the Egyptian government’s opposition to this agreement and its affirmation of its recognition of the unity of the Somali state.
He added that there is no doubt that one of the most dangerous Ethiopian policies and decisions is the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which will have a dire impact on Egypt and Sudan’s historical shares in the Nile waters, which are documented by many historical agreements and treaties that are internationally recognized.
Zakaria highlighted the tireless efforts made by Egypt to confront Ethiopian policies, whether through bilateral talks or in the arenas of international organizations, such as the African Union and the UN Security Council, and that it spares no effort to preserve its inherent and legitimate rights to the Nile waters.
