(Daniel Berhane)
Western-darling Egypt proved to be a cause of regional tension, while Khartoum stood firm on the side of reason and peace regarding the Nile waters issue.
A flood of reports evidencing Egyptian belligerency have surfaced in the past two weeks.
However, American and European media appear to have chosen to under-report the scale of the Egyptian irrationality and chauvinism.
Most of them have been engaged in a subtle campaign to present Egypt’s belligerency as one prompted by water scarcity.
Western media was observed under reporting the accidentally televised plot of Egypt’s politicians to destabilize Ethiopia by hiding from their readers the fact that it was implicitly condoned by the Egyptian head of the state.
Similar approach was followed on Monday when President Morsi made the most irresponsible statement a head of state could make in a televised speech addressing a conference of Islamist parties’ supporters.
In quite contrast, the government of Sudan – about whom the western media would rather not report anything positive – proved its perseverance to reason and science in the face of Egyptian bully.
Even though Sudan is as dependent as Egypt on the Nile, Khartoum honored her word by accepting the Intentional Panel of Experts’ Report on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam.
The Sudanese government reiterated its support for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance dam for the third time in just two weeks.
The latest came last Sunday from the Sudanese information Minister and government spokesperson Ahmed Bilal Osman. It was reported by Sudan Tribune that:
[Ahmed Bilal Osman] insisted today that Sudan would benefit from the controversial Ethiopian renaissance dam and stressed that Ethiopia has engaged Sudan in all operations associated with the dam building.
At a press conference in Khartoum, Osman announced that Sudan’s minister of water resources and electricity Osama Abdalla Mohamed al-Hassan will travel for Cairo early next week.
He said that the ten-member committee which includes representatives from Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt as well as international experts has dispelled all concerns raised about the dam, adding that Sudan is ready to send experts and technicians to help in the construction of the dam.
The Sudanese official also downplayed fears of a possible collapse of the dam which could lead to flooding Sudan and said that construction technology has improved and added that the Italian company which is building the dam would not risk its reputation, noting that Khartoum is keen on strengthening relations with Cairo and Addis Ababa.
The Sudanese Information Minister made a similar remark on June 4, 2013 after Egyptian politicians have been heard on TV labeling Sudan as “treacherous” and “disgusting” in a meeting with President Morsi – which is nothing but a code word that they would attempt to destabilize Khartoum.
History books recorded Egypt’s active involvement in at-least one regime-change in Khartoum. That forced the Sudanese to concede to Egypt’s whim about Nile for more than half a century.
According to Sudan Media Center (on June 4):
The Sudanese information minister and government spokesperson Ahmed Bilal Osman called on Egyptian officials to refrain from insulting his country.
“Our view would not please the Egyptians and will upset them but Sudan will benefit greatly from the [Ethiopian] dam,” Osman said in a TV interview.
“The hurtful talk [against] Sudan does not serve the interests [of Egypt]” he added.
The Sudanese official further said the dam will enhance the flow of water from the huge reserves and feed the underground water while reducing dependency on rainfall. He said the benefits of the Ethiopian project will be shared by both nations.
The earliest positive remark from the Sudanese came on May 29, a day after the International Panel of Experts submitted its final report about the dam.
Sudanese news outlets reported that:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed continuity of consultations and understanding between Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt concerning the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.
The ministry stated that the technical authorities at the Ministry of Electricity and Water Resources affirmed that the Ethiopian step to establish the dam will not affect Sudan….
The Foreign Ministry reiterated Sudan commitment to cooperate with both Ethiopia and Egypt in the Nile water for the sake of guaranteeing maximum common benefit for the three countries.
Indeed, these are not accidental remarks rather what Khartoum have been saying since April 2012 through her President Al-Bashir and her Minister of Irrigation.
However, the western media continue to lump Sudan with Egypt, as if she endorsed the latter’s belligerent position, or ignore her at all in their reporting.
It should be noted that about 80 percent of Sudanese rely on agriculture, which consists about 40 percent of the nation’s GDP.
Observers suggest that the flawed report in the western media could be due to British colonialists role in creating the Nile waters mess, Sudan’s current discord with Westerners and the fact that Ethiopia has no colonial master who would sympathize for her.
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