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Controversial Nile dam talks resume

Government officials from Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan are once again holding talks in a bid to try to resolve a long running dispute triggered by the construction of a huge dam on the River Nile.

In July last year the reservoir of the hydro electric dam in the west of Ethiopia started filling with water despite the breakdown of talks between the three countries.

The Addis Ababa government is determined to provide electricity for its population and will also export power.

But Egypt is concerned that during years of drought its water supply will be greatly reduced.

Sudan has warned Ethiopia not to proceed with the second stage of filling the dam before an agreement is reached.

The latest round of talks mediated by the African Union will involve the officials meeting virtually.
US and Moroccan officials have had talks in Western Sahara on plans to open an American consulate in the disputed territory.

The visit by the US envoy, David Schenker, follows President Trump’s controversial decision last month to recognise Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara – where the indigenous Sahrawi people want a state of their own.

Mr Trump’s move overturned America’s longstanding, neutral position on the dispute, and was part of a deal in which Morocco agreed to re-establish relations with Israel.

Ethiopia arrests top TPLF leader
The Ethiopian government says it has arrested a key founding member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The ministry of defence said Sebhat Nega who is now in his 80s was found hiding in a remote area of Tigray.

Since early November Ethiopia’s military has been fighting the TPLF which used to govern the region.

On Thursday the military said several other senior TPLF members had been killed or arrested.

The UN has described the humanitarian situation in Tigray as dire with 1.3 million people in need of aid as a result of the conflict.

It said food supplies are very limited and schools, hospitals and administrative offices have been looted.
Following a meeting with the Ethiopian government the European Union’s Foreign Policy chief has called for humanitarian access throughout the conflict-hit Tigray region.

Aid agencies have been allowed to visit some areas in recent weeks but not the entire region where the military has been fighting TPLF regional forces.

The United Nations has described the picture in Tigray as dire with looting and food shortages.

The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said unrestricted humanitarian access to the Tigray region must be granted.

He said this was not a request to the Ethiopian government but was a requirement under international law.

The UN says it’s been denied access to two camps for Eritrean refugees.

Satellite images show that structures in the camps have been destroyed – including a World Food Programme building.

Now a military commander has admitted soldiers from Eritrea have been fighting in Ethiopia. There are numerous allegations that these troops have been committing abuses.

But by keeping people out it seems the government in Addis Ababa is trying to ensure some aspects of this war are hidden.

Source: Will Ross, Africa editor, BBC World Service

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