How Egypt perceives Ethiopia’s ban of flights over Nile dam
Ethiopia has decided to ban flying over the Renaissance Dam that it is building on the Blue Nile in a move thought to deepen the years-old conflict.
Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been for nearly a decade engaged in an open conflict over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile to generate hydroelectric power.
Most recently, Ethiopia decided to ban flights over the dam for security considerations, the director-general of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, Wesenyeleh Hunegnaw, told Reuters on Oct. 5.
Hunegnaw said that the decision aims at securing the dam. But analysts say they believe the move will deepen the already existing dispute over the dam. Ethiopia hopes the project will make the country an even greater exporter of electricity.
On the same day, Hunegnaw told the BBC that it was common for the country to ban flights above major projects.
