What's happened
Former President Trump has written to Egyptian President el-Sissi, offering to restart U.S. mediation to resolve tensions over Ethiopia's Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The dam, inaugurated last fall, has heightened regional tensions, with Egypt fearing water loss and Ethiopia emphasizing its development needs. Trump highlights the importance of technical expertise and negotiations to prevent conflict.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
All Africa reports that Trump’s letter to President el-Sissi emphasizes the U.S. role in mediating the Nile water dispute, highlighting his commitment to regional peace and water security. AP News notes Ethiopia’s recent inauguration of the GERD and Egypt’s opposition, framing the dam as a threat to Egypt’s water supply. The New Arab details Trump’s previous involvement in negotiations and his recent offer to restart mediation, emphasizing the regional tensions and the potential for conflict. Reuters reports that Egyptian President el-Sissi responded by affirming Egypt’s concerns about water security, while Trump’s social media posts have historically exaggerated U.S. involvement, sometimes claiming false funding or achievements. The contrasting perspectives reflect the complex geopolitical stakes, with Egypt and Ethiopia holding divergent narratives—Egypt emphasizing water rights and Ethiopia focusing on development—while Trump’s intervention aims to bridge these divides.
How we got here
The GERD, Africa's largest dam, was inaugurated in September 2025 by Ethiopia, aiming to double its electricity capacity. Egypt opposes the dam, citing fears of reduced Nile water flow, which is vital for its agriculture and population. Diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes date back to Trump's first term, but negotiations stalled in 2020 after Ethiopia withdrew. Recent high-level talks resumed in July 2023, but no final agreement has been reached. The U.S. has historically played a mediating role, with Trump now proposing to re-engage amid regional tensions.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Abdel Fattah Saeed Hussein Khalil el-Sisi is an Egyptian politician who is the sixth and current President of Egypt, former Director of Military Intelligence, former Minister of Defence, and former General.
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The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam, is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia under construction since 2011.
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Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the west and Sudan to
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Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.