Egypt Frees 32 Ethiopian Prisoners after Talks on Controversial Nile Dam

Local Editor

Egypt allowed 32 Ethiopian prisoners to fly home Monday, sources said, after apparent progress in talks between the leaders of the two countries over the controversial Nile dam Ethiopia is building.

The prisoners, who had been detained for minor breaches including trespass and immigration offenses, flew home on the same plane with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, diplomatic and airport sources said.

Ahmed held talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, discussing Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile River, a hydroelectric project that downstream Egypt has long feared will restrict water flow to its detriment.

"The prisoners were released today and traveled with the Ethiopian prime minister," a diplomatic source said.

A source at Cairo airport said the Ethiopians had departed for their home country.

Ahmed appeared on Egyptian state television on Sunday, giving a personal guarantee the dam would not adversely affect Egypt, while Sisi said the two men discussed building an industrial region in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian leader thanked Sisi for allowing the release of the prisoners, in a joint news conference by the pair on Monday.

Construction of the dam also caused friction between Ethiopia and Sudan, with Ahmed traveling to Khartoum for talks last month with President Omar al-Bashir.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team