ADDIS ABABA — Former senior Tigray leader Getachew Reda has reportedly claimed that Tigrayan authorities requested $500 million in financial assistance from Egypt during the conflict with Ethiopia’s federal government but received only $500,000.
According to remarks attributed to Getachew, he personally drafted a letter requesting financial support from Cairo after a senior Tigrayan leader instructed him to seek $500 million.
Getachew reportedly questioned the amount, arguing that Egypt itself depended heavily on American assistance and was unlikely to provide such a substantial sum.
However, he said the Tigrayan leader insisted on proceeding with the request, citing Egypt’s strategic interests in Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project that has been a longstanding source of disagreement between Addis Ababa and Cairo.
Getachew claimed that the request was eventually submitted but that Egypt provided only $500,000.
The allegations, if independently confirmed, could raise questions about Egypt’s alleged involvement in Ethiopia’s internal conflict and the extent to which regional disputes over Nile waters influenced relations with Tigrayan forces.
However, the reported financial assistance has not been independently verified, and no documentary evidence confirming the alleged payment has been presented.
Getachew’s reported remarks have also raised questions about their credibility because of his subsequent political alignment with Ethiopia’s federal government and his reported advisory role to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
His current political position does not, by itself, establish whether the allegations are accurate or inaccurate.
There has been no independently verified response from Egyptian authorities regarding the reported claims.
The allegations highlight the continuing political sensitivities surrounding the Tigray conflict and Ethiopia’s relations with Egypt over the Nile dam dispute.
Editor’s note: This report is based on statements attributed to Getachew Reda. The original remarks, the alleged financial transfer, and his current official position require independent verification before publication as confirmed facts.
