Egypt uses 'radio diplomacy' in Africa to influence Nile dam dispute
The Egyptian government plans to increase the number of stations targeting Africa and the Nile Basin countries in order to promote the Egyptian position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Amid the ongoing dispute over the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt is working to expand its broadcasting system targeting Nile Basin countries to promote Egypt’s positions on a number of issues, including the GERD.
In Sept. 11 press statements, the head of the parliament’s African Affairs Committee, Sherif el-Gabali, called on the government to launch more radio stations directed at African audiences. He stressed that “Egyptian radio stations targeting Africa play an important role in making Egypt’s voice heard among the African peoples.”
“The [African Affairs] committee will make an effort with those in charge of media outlets to find out how to launch more Egyptian radio stations targeting Africa,” he added.
The calls come as part of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s efforts to restore Egypt’s role in Africa. In the 1960s, Egypt had several radio stations broadcasting to Africa to strengthen the country’s influence on the continent. But several stations were shut down under Mohamed Hosni Mubarak.
