Egypt–Ethiopia

relations

Egypt–Ethiopia relations refer to the

bilateral relations between the
governments of Egypt and Ethiopia. Both
countries established diplomatic ties in
1927 to be the oldest on the African
continent and one of the oldest in the
world.[1] They are both members of the
Nile Basin Initiative and share a relation
of special nature due to their crucial roles
in vital issues such as the Nile water file
and the interest both share on
establishing security in the Horn of Africa
region by combating terrorism and
piracy.[1]

Egyptian-Ethiopian relations

Egypt Ethiopia

History
The first contact between the two people
dates back nearly seven thousand years
ago when the ancient Egyptians
launched their earliest recorded
expedition to the Land of Punt under
Sahure of the Fifth Dynasty although
Punt gold dates back to even earlier
times during the rule of King Khufu of the
Fourth Dynasty. Ancient Egyptians called
this place Ta-neter (The Gods' Land) and
viewed it as a mysterious and unknown
land of great fortune. They frequently
engaged in trade expeditions with their
partners in Punt where they acquired
gold, incense, ebony, ivory, slaves, exotic
animals and skins.[2]
 Religious ties …

Religion plays a crucial role in bringing

the two countries closer as the Ethiopian
Orthodox Tewahedo Church was under
the administration of the Coptic
Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was
appointed its own Patriarch by the Coptic
Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and
Patriarch of All Africa, Cyril VI. Ethiopian
Muslims are also closely attached to Al-
Azhar in Cairo, where they have their own
column to study under, named Al-Jabarta
Column, under which numerous scholars
studied such as Shaykh Abdurahman al-
Jabarti.[3][4]
 Economic ties …

In 1905, the National Bank of Egypt

helped establish Ethiopia's first ever
bank, “The Bank of Abyssinia” which
operated as an affiliate of the NBE, it
received a 50-year monopoly and was the
Ethiopian government’s fiscal agent as
well as the sole issuer of notes and was
responsible for collecting deposits and
granting loans as well as trading in gold
and silver, stockpiling staple
commodities and investments.[3][5][6][7] In
a sense, it operated as both a central and
a commercial bank until 1930 when it
was handed over to the Ethiopian
government after Haile Selassie's
ascension to the throne who could not
accept that the country's issuing bank
was foreign-owned. A new government-
controlled bank, the Bank of Ethiopia,
was installed in 1931 and kept
management and almost all staff,
premises and clients of the old bank until
the Italian invasion in 1936 when it was
liquidated.[7]

Today, there are over 72 Egyptian

investments projects in Ethiopia in the
fields of agriculture, livestock production,
industry, tourism and real estate. Another
project under implementation is an
Egyptian industrial zone in the city of
Adama, about 90 km from the capital
Addis Ababa. Also, the Arab Contractors
company opened an office in the
country.[8] Below is statistical data
showing the significant development of
trade between the two countries between
2007 and 2009 in million US dollars of
value:

Statement/Year 2007 2008 2009

Egyptian exports to Ethiopia 87.4 93.2 129.2

Egyptian imports from Ethiopia 7.5 13.4 16.9

Volume of Trade 94.9 106.6 146.1

Trade Balance 79.9 79.8 112.3

Source: Ethiopian Customs Authority[8]

Nile water …

In 1929, a British-sponsored treaty

between Egypt and some Nile basin
colonies, without the participation of
Ethiopia, awarded Egypt the right to veto
any project that it deems threatening to
its water share.[9] Recently, however,
Ethiopia announced the Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam project, which would
allow it to better exploit its water
resources, rejecting the old treaty and
stressing that it wasn't a member back
then. According to the Egyptian
authorities, the dam, if built, would
negatively affect Egypt's water share,
estimated at 57 percent of the Nile
waters.[10][11] Ethiopia turned down
several requests from Egypt to pause the
construction, furthering tensions
between the two countries.[11]

References …
Notes …

1. "Egyptian-Ethiopian relations" . State

Information Service.
2. Munro-Hay 2002, pp. 18
3. "Brief History of Egyptian-Ethiopian
relations - Ministry of Foreign Affairs" .
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Egypt).
4. "African Christianity, Part One: A Short
History (Egypt and Ethiopia)" . Think
About It, Know About It.
5. G. Markus 2002, pp. 107
. Dr. Richard Pankhurst. "Early Ethiopian
Banking History, 1 - The Bank of
Abyssinia, and its Bank Notes" . Link
Ethiopia.
 7. Arnaldo Mauri. "Origins and early
development of banking in Ethiopia" .
Ideas.
. "Economic Relations between Egypt and
Ethiopia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs" .
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Egypt).
9. Abedje, Ashenafi (17 March 2011). "Nile
River Countries Consider Cooperative
Framework Agreement" . Voice of
America. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
10. "Egypt and Ethiopia spar over the Nile" .
11. "Ethiopia Rejects Egypt Proposal on Nile
as Dam Talks Falter" .

Bibliography …

Munro-Hay, Stuart (2002). Ethiopia, the

Unknown Land: A Cultural and Historical
 Guide. London: I.B. Tauris.
ISBN 9781860647444.
G. Markus, Harold (2002). A History of
Ethiopia. Berkeley, California: University
of California Press.
ISBN 9780520224797.

Further reading …

Foreign Ministry asks Ethiopia about

Egyptians detained in Mubarak
assassination attempt | Egypt
Independent
Egypt and Ethiopia vow to defuse Blue
Nile dam row . BBC News.
Nile Basin countries experts
negotiation in Khartoum marked with
disputes | Egypt Independent
Ethiopia determined to construct
Renaissance Dam: ambassador | Egypt
Independent
Ethiopian dam project to include Egypt
and Sudan | Egypt Independent
Minister: Diversion of Blue Nile no
indication that Egypt approves of dam |
Egypt Independent
Foreign Ministry officials discuss
Renaissance Dam crisis | Egypt
Independent
Qandil, acting pope to attend Zenawi’s
funeral | Egypt Independent
Qandil visits Ethiopia to offer
condolences on Zenawi’s death | Egypt
Independent
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