Egypt, Somalia Condemn Ethiopia's Approach Over Nile Dam Dispute

A member of the Republican March Band poses for photo before at the ceremony for the inaugural production of energy at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. AFP
A member of the Republican March Band poses for photo before at the ceremony for the inaugural production of energy at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. AFP
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Egypt, Somalia Condemn Ethiopia's Approach Over Nile Dam Dispute

A member of the Republican March Band poses for photo before at the ceremony for the inaugural production of energy at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. AFP
A member of the Republican March Band poses for photo before at the ceremony for the inaugural production of energy at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. AFP

Egypt and Somalia have rejected unilateral actions by Ethiopia involving international river projects, a statement from the Egyptian presidency has said.

This came as Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks with Somalia President Sheikh Mohamud. The two leaders held a joint press conference on Monday.

In remarks about the dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, both leaders agreed on the seriousness of Addis Ababa’s “unilateral policies” while implementing projects on international rivers.

Sisi underscored the importance of reaching a legally binding agreement on operating and filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as soon as possible to maintain regional security and stability.

The dispute was sparked between Ethiopia and the Nile’s downstream countries in 2011, when it began the dam construction in a bid to become Africa’s biggest power exporter, generating more than 6,000 megawatts.

Egypt fears that the dam will damage its limited share of the Nile water, about 55.5 billion cubic meters, which the country needs for more than 90% for its supply of drinking water, irrigation for agriculture and industry.

Addis Ababa has recently launched the third phase of GERD filling “unilaterally” and without reaching any agreement with Sudan and Egypt.

Sisi said talks with his counterpart touched on developments in the GERD issue.

Both sides agreed on the need to adhere to the principle of cooperation and prior consultation among neighboring countries to ensure they suffer no harm, in line with the relevant rules of international law.

Sisi said talks focused on the situation in the Horn of Africa, noting that he agreed with the Somali President to work together to consolidate security and stability in this key strategic area.

They further decided to intensify cooperation and coordination on the security of the Red Sea and emphasized the countries’ responsibility to formulate all policies related to that vital waterway, from an integrated perspective that takes into account the various developmental, economic and security aspects.

Sisi said Cairo supports efforts to promote security and peace in Somalia, eliminate terrorism and achieve the aspirations of the Somalis to have a better future that will help the country reassume its active and influential role in the Horn of Africa, at the Arab and continental levels.

He extended his congratulations to his counterpart on assuming the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Somalia, considering it a key step on the path toward reinforcing stability in Somalia and represents a pivotal importance in the Horn of Africa region.

According to Sisi, the deliberations reflected the common views with regard to a multitude of bilateral and regional issues of common interest.

He said they reviewed progress achieved in joint projects between Egypt and Somalia and agreed on the importance of their joint action to strengthen economic development efforts in Somalia.

This is in addition to efforts to open branches for Banque Misr, which were culminated in early July when the Central Bank of Somalia issued the final license to Banque Misr to operate within the country.

Mahmoud, for his part, underscored the support his country receives from Egypt, noting that it helps achieve mutual interests in the region and the world.

He further hailed the historical bilateral relations over the past decades that culminated in joint economic and security projects, as well as social services.



Lebanon Military Says One Soldier Killed, 18 Hurt in Israeli Strike on Army Center

Lebanese army soldiers and people stand at the site of an Israeli strike in the town of Baaloul, in the western Bekaa Valley, Lebanon October 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maher Abou Taleb
Lebanese army soldiers and people stand at the site of an Israeli strike in the town of Baaloul, in the western Bekaa Valley, Lebanon October 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maher Abou Taleb
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Lebanon Military Says One Soldier Killed, 18 Hurt in Israeli Strike on Army Center

Lebanese army soldiers and people stand at the site of an Israeli strike in the town of Baaloul, in the western Bekaa Valley, Lebanon October 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maher Abou Taleb
Lebanese army soldiers and people stand at the site of an Israeli strike in the town of Baaloul, in the western Bekaa Valley, Lebanon October 19, 2024. REUTERS/Maher Abou Taleb

An Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center on Sunday killed one soldier and wounded 18 others, the Lebanese military said.

It was the latest in a series of Israeli strikes that have killed over 40 Lebanese troops, even as the military has largely kept to the sidelines in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has said previous strikes on Lebanese troops were accidental and that they are not a target of its campaign against Hezbollah.

Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, condemned it as an assault on US-led ceasefire efforts, calling it a “direct, bloody message rejecting all efforts and ongoing contacts” to end the war.

“(Israel is) again writing in Lebanese blood a brazen rejection of the solution that is being discussed,” a statement from his office read.

The strike occurred in southwestern Lebanon on the coastal road between Tyre and Naqoura, where there has been heavy fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip ignited the war there. Hezbollah has portrayed the attacks as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Iran supports both armed groups.

Israel has launched retaliatory airstrikes since the rocket fire began, and in September the low-level conflict erupted into all-out war, as Israel launched waves of airstrikes across large parts of Lebanon and killed Hezbollah's top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and several of his top commanders.

Israeli airstrikes early Saturday pounded central Beirut, killing at least 20 people and wounding 66, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Hezbollah has continued to fire regular barrages into Israel, forcing people to race for shelters and occasionally killing or wounding them.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced about 1.2 million people, or a quarter of Lebanon’s population.

On the Israeli side, about 90 soldiers and nearly 50 civilians have been killed by bombardments in northern Israel and in battle following Israel's ground invasion in early October. Around 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from the country's north.

Hezbollah fired barrages of rockets into northern and central Israel on Sunday, some of which were intercepted.

Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said it was treating two people in the central city of Petah Tikva, a 23-year-old man who was lightly wounded by a blast and a 70-year-old woman suffering from smoke inhalation from a car that caught fire. The first responders said they also treated two women in their 50s who were wounded in northern Israel.

It was unclear whether the injuries and damage were caused by the rockets or interceptors.

The Biden administration has spent months trying to broker a ceasefire, and US envoy Amos Hochstein was back in the region last week.

The emerging agreement would pave the way for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops from southern Lebanon below the Litani River in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war. Lebanese troops would patrol the area, with the presence of UN peacekeepers.