President Donald Trump

The President of the United States of America

Washington, DC

RE: Regarding Your Remarks on The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Dear President Donald Trump,

The Ethiopian Community Organization in Houston is writing this open letter to protest your open and public encouragement of terrorism and violence. Suggesting Egypt will blow up the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is equivalent to endorsing the unilateral use of force to resolving disputes among states, which is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations. We remain shocked and appalled by your words, “They will end up blowing up the dam”.  To hear such words uttered from a leader of the most powerful nation in the world and who should exemplify a high moral standard is very irresponsible and unbecoming a leader. For a President of one of the leading democratic countries to talk about peace between Sudan and Israel but in the same breath suggest war between Egypt and Ethiopia is a glaring display of hypocrisy.

The relationship between Ethiopia and the U.S. dates back to over a century. The United States and Ethiopia established diplomatic relations on December 27, 1903, when the King of Ethiopia Emperor Menelik II and U.S. representative Robert P. Skinner signed a treaty of commerce. One of the goals during that time was to keep peace and security between the two countries.  Despite evolving forms of government, both sides have maintained an amicable relationship where the United States respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia over the years. Your remark against Ethiopia is not only contrary to international law and conventions, but also it is against the long-standing spirit of cooperation between the two countries.

We would like to remind you that Ethiopia never agreed to the U.S. brokered deal with Egypt and Sudan. For what reason would Ethiopia subject its people to a one-sided agreement that it took no part in drafting? To expect Ethiopia to accept what you call ‘a deal’ that does not consider the interest of its own people in the slightest, is against the very foundation of democratic ideals and fairness that the United States stands for. Instead of serving as a neutral observer to bring mutually acceptable solutions for both sides, you continued to favor the Egyptian side, and your recent admission to discontinue aid and encourage war is proof of your lack of neutrality. Based on your conversation with the Prime Minister of Sudan, it is all too clear that all aspects of impartiality have been abandoned. You have openly and decisively transitioned from an observer of the peace talks to an encourager of aggression.

Ethiopia as a sovereign country has as much right to build a dam as any other sovereign nation in the world. Ethiopia believes in cooperation with other the Nile Basin countries, including Egypt, to reach a mutually acceptable arrangement that would benefit the people of both nations, but will not accept unjust interference from anyone.  We, the Ethiopian Community Organization in Houston, in the spirit of fairness and moral responsibility, kindly urge you to reconsider your decision to cease funding and support for war among African nations.

Thank you for your time,

Ethiopian Community Organization in Houston