By Ambassador of Peace Terefe Worku | Special to African View
In the geopolitically sensitive waters of Nile diplomacy, where history, politics, and survival converge, Professor Hirut Woldemariam has stood as a beacon of empathy, eloquence, and understanding. A seasoned academic and former government minister, Prof. Hirut carried Ethiopia’s message of cooperation to Egypt during one of the most pivotal moments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations.
Her visit to Cairo was more than diplomatic protocol, it was a moment of emotional diplomacy that left a lasting imprint on both nations. In a rare honor, Prof. Hirut addressed the Egyptian Parliament in the presence of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, not as a political negotiator, but as a messenger of shared humanity.
“Ethiopia has no interest in harming
Egypt. Our dream is to grow together through the equitable use of the Nile,” she told her audience.
“Let us not see this river as a source of division, but as a bridge of
cooperation.”
It was a message not rooted in geopolitical posturing, but in lived realities and moral clarity.
Humanizing a National Vision
In a personal reflection she once shared, Prof. Hirut described the emotional weight of standing before Egyptian leaders, religious figures, and lawmakers. She chose to speak not in technical jargon, but in stories—stories of Ethiopian mothers walking long distances for firewood, of children studying under candlelight due to lack of electricity.
“This dam is not built out of arrogance,” she said, “but out of the tears and prayers of generations. It is for these children and mothers that we build.”
Her words struck a powerful chord. According to those in the room, what began with diplomatic formality shifted into something deeper. The atmosphere moved from skepticism to solidarity. President el-Sisi was visibly moved. In a gesture that surprised many, he extended an invitation for Prof. Hirut to stay and provide training for Egyptian women parliamentarians, a symbolic step toward mutual respect and gender-inclusive diplomacy.
A New Model of Public Diplomacy
Prof. Hirut’s mission marked a turning point in how African states can approach international dialogue. Rather than confronting historical grievances with confrontation, she offered compassion. Rather than wielding hard power, she employed soft power, anchored in cultural understanding, maternal strength, and moral vision.
Her approach demonstrates the rising importance of public diplomacy in Africa’s foreign relations, a shift from purely legalistic and political negotiations to one that leverages storytelling, shared identity, and emotional intelligence.
In a region often dominated by suspicion and nationalist rhetoric, Prof. Hirut reminded both Ethiopia and Egypt that the Nile, while powerful, is not just a river of water, it is a river of shared destiny.
The Path Forward
As Ethiopia continues to navigate the complex terrain of GERD diplomacy, the legacy of voices like Prof. Hirut’s will echo across corridors of power. Her ability to build bridges through empathy, rather than erect walls of fear, has redefined what diplomacy can look like in the 21st century, especially on the African continent.
Her story is not just about Ethiopia or the Nile. It’s a broader call to African leaders and diplomats to speak with authenticity, compassion, and purpose. Because in the end, it’s not only treaties that shape peace, it is the human spirit behind them.
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