Latest news with #RiverNile
Arab News
6 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
War-torn Sudan's prodigal premier league returns to cheers
'It's a wonderful feeling, it's indescribable, to see this beautiful return,' football fan Ahmed Taj said'We're so happy to see Al-Hilal come back, to see Sudanese football come back, after everything we've lost in the past two years'BERBER, Sudan: In the Sudanese town of Berber, hundreds of kilometers away from the frontlines of war, a modest stadium seems to shake with the roar of football fans jumping to their feet.'It's a wonderful feeling, it's indescribable, to see this beautiful return,' football fan Ahmed Taj told AFP from the sidelines of the penultimate league match between newly-crowned champions Al-Hilal and Hay Al-Wadi.'We're so happy to see Al-Hilal come back, to see Sudanese football come back, after everything we've lost in the past two years,' he April 2023, war between Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands and made Sudan the scene of the world's largest hunger and displacement for a few hours each week in July, the country seemed to pause during match time, a welcome respite for a population buffeted between mass displacement, starvation and first Sudan Elite League in two years was held in River Nile state, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) northeast of the war-ravaged capital small stadiums in the cities of Atbara, Berber and Al-Damer, teams faced off on pitches streaked with massive brown patches as dozens of fans cheered from the Atbara's power stations and army bases coming under drone strikes — most recently last month — the area is still considered safer than season reached its climax on Tuesday as the country's favorite teams — rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh — met in a title-deciding claimed victory and finished top of the table, with second-placed Al-Merrikh also qualifying for the African Champions Al-Hilal's celebrated captain and national team striker Mohamed Abdel Rahman, playing on Sudanese soil, even if not on his home turf in the capital, was thrilling.'We're so happy to be home, playing in front of our fans,' he told AFP on the pitch before kick-off in the crucial encounter with Hay Al-Wadi last Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh had been forced to compete abroad, participating in the Mauritanian league last reached the quarter-finals of this year's African Champions League, cheered on from afar by street celebrations back home.'We're giving our all to make our fans happy, to offer some joy,' the forward not everyone can go but one of this year's eight competing teams — down from the usual 24 — are based in cities under army Al-Wadi hail from the South Darfur state capital Nyala, under paramilitary control and regularly targeted by military air vast western Darfur region has witnessed some of the war's worst violence, with entire displacement camps besieged, bombed and burned to the captain Jibril Mohamed Nour, the league has been bittersweet.'I can't even believe it... it's an indescribable feeling to play again,' the Darfur native told AFP before taking on Al-Hilal.'But we miss our fans, we miss our hometown, we can only hope we'll be able to go back soon.'Since the war began, his team has trained in Saudi Arabia, only returning weeks before the championship kicked with some of the players out of practice and facilities hardly top-tier, Sudanese football is on the rise, according to the league's only foreign coach, the Egyptian Shawky Gharib who helms Al-Merrikh.'The fans are here, the players are here... as long as we can play and there's a system in place, the infrastructure, everything can be fixed,' he told his part, Sudan Football Association board member Mohamed Abdel Samee beams with pride that the association 'insisted on holding the championship.''As soon as it wraps, we're planning next season, when we hope every team will be able to play in their hometown.'Yet there is no end in sight to the war, and even in army-controlled areas millions suffer hunger and lack of services.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethiopian official denies Donald Trump's claim that US funded River Nile dam
An Ethiopian official has denied Donald Trump's claim that the United States helped fund Ethiopia's new megadam on the River Nile, saying it is false and "destructive". Last week, President Trump said the controversial dam was built "with United States money, largely". Officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the project is Africa's biggest hydro-electric plant and a major source of pride for Ethiopians. Over the 14 years it has taken to complete Gerd, the Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly said that the dam was funded by the government, along with contributions from the Ethiopian people. The dam has, however, angered Egypt and Sudan, which lie upstream on the River Nile and fear the dam could lead to less water flowing into their countries. The BBC has asked the White House to expand on Trump's comments. On Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Coordination Office, dismissed Trump's remarks, saying the dam was built "without any foreign aid". Why is Egypt worried about Ethiopia's dam on the Nile? How Ethiopia was 'betrayed' over Nile dam Ethiopia's pop stars weigh in on Gerd row Although technically an independent body, the Gerd Coordination Office was set up by the government to mobilise resources for the dam. "Regarding what Donald Trump claimed, the government should respond with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures," Ms Fikrte said. Following Ms Fikrte's comments, some Ethiopians have questioned how privy the Gerd Coordination Office would be to any potential deal between the government and the US, given its independent status. Ethiopia's government has not responded to Trump's comments about funding the dam, which began generating electricity in 2022 and was fully completed earlier this month. It is not the first time Trump has claimed US involvement in Gerd. Last month, in a post on his Truth Social online platform, the president said the dam was "stupidly financed by the United States of America" and "substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River". Trump was referring to concerns from Egypt and Sudan that the megadam would disrupt the flow of water they get from the River Nile. More than a mile long and 145m high, Gerd lies on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the River Nile's waters flow. Ethiopia wants the dam to produce desperately needed electricity, as the majority of its population - about 60% - have no supply. But the construction of Gerd has led to tensions with Egypt - an ally of the Trump administration - and Sudan. Initially scheduled to be completed within six years with a $4bn (£2.9bn) budget, Gerd generated excitement among the Ethiopian public. The authorities capitalised on this interest to raise money for the dam - bonds were sold to companies, employees pledged deductions from their salaries and Ethiopia's huge diaspora sent in donations. Despite the project running significantly behind schedule, and consequently overbudget, it has continued to draw contributions. Since 1 April this year, 1.7 billion birr ($12.3 million; £9.1 million) have been collected from the public, the Gerd Coordination Office says. You may also be interested in: Dam plan busted? World's biggest hydropower project in the balance The spectacular failures and successes of massive dams Who benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ethiopian official denies Donald Trump's claim that US funded Gerd - the River Nile dam
An Ethiopian official has denied Donald Trump's claim that the United States helped fund Ethiopia's new megadam on the River Nile, saying it is false and "destructive". Last week, President Trump said the controversial dam was built "with United States money, largely".Officially known as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), the project is Africa's biggest hydro-electric plant and a major source of pride for the 14 years it has taken to complete Gerd, the Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly said that the dam was funded by the government, along with contributions from the Ethiopian people. The dam has, however, angered Egypt and Sudan, which lie upstream on the River Nile and fear the dam could lead to less water flowing into their BBC has asked the White House to expand on Trump's Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the Gerd Coordination Office, dismissed Trump's remarks, saying the dam was built "without any foreign aid".Why is Egypt worried about Ethiopia's dam on the Nile?How Ethiopia was 'betrayed' over Nile damEthiopia's pop stars weigh in on Gerd rowAlthough technically an independent body, the Gerd Coordination Office was set up by the government to mobilise resources for the dam."Regarding what Donald Trump claimed, the government should respond with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures," Ms Fikrte Ms Fikrte's comments, some Ethiopians have questioned how privy the Gerd Coordination Office would be to any potential deal between the government and the US, given its independent government has not responded to Trump's comments about funding the dam, which began generating electricity in 2022 and was fully completed earlier this is not the first time Trump has claimed US involvement in Gerd. Last month, in a post on his Truth Social online platform, the president said the dam was "stupidly financed by the United States of America" and "substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River".Trump was referring to concerns from Egypt and Sudan that the megadam would disrupt the flow of water they get from the River than a mile long and 145m high, Gerd lies on the Blue Nile in the northern Ethiopia highlands, from where 85% of the River Nile's waters wants the dam to produce desperately needed electricity, as the majority of its population - about 60% - have no the construction of Gerd has led to tensions with Egypt - an ally of the Trump administration - and scheduled to be completed within six years with a $4bn (£2.9bn) budget, Gerd generated excitement among the Ethiopian public. The authorities capitalised on this interest to raise money for the dam - bonds were sold to companies, employees pledged deductions from their salaries and Ethiopia's huge diaspora sent in the project running significantly behind schedule, and consequently overbudget, it has continued to draw 1 April this year, 1.7 billion birr ($12.3 million; £9.1 million) have been collected from the public, the Gerd Coordination Office says. You may also be interested in: Dam plan busted? World's biggest hydropower project in the balanceThe spectacular failures and successes of massive damsWho benefits from Lesotho's 'white gold'? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
