File photo: The Nile dam
Ethiopia will go on and fill its mega-dam on the Nile, taking advantage of the heavy rain season, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said.
The filling will continue despite ongoing talks between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to resolve the long-running dispute on the issue.
"If Ethiopia doesn't fill the dam, it means Ethiopia has agreed to demolish the dam," the AFP news agency quoted the prime minister as saying.
He added: "On other points, we can reach an agreement slowly over time, but for the filling of the dam we can reach and sign an agreement this year."
Ethiopia has been insisting that the dam would continue to be filled as scheduled from this month, despite concerns raised by Egypt and Sudan that the dam would lead to a drastic reduction of water downstream.
The three countries have been taking part in long-running talks to try to reach an agreement that includes how the dam would be operated.
The Nile provides about 90% of Egypt's water needs and fears that the reduction of the water could affect the livelihoods of its people.
Ethiopia is counting on the dam to produce electricity to power its manufacturing and industrial dreams.
