Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). This is Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, positioned on the Blue Nile, a major tributary of the Nile River. The dam, under construction since 2011 with a $4 billion investment, is now set for official inauguration in September 2025.
In his address to parliament, Abiy described GERD not as a geopolitical threat but as a shared opportunity for regional growth. “The Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity … Prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all,” he said.
The GERD is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity, >2x Ethiopia’s current power output. For a country where 50% of the population still lives without electricity, the project is seen as critical to Ethiopia’s development strategy and energy security.
However, the project continues to raise tensions with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan, both of which have voiced concerns over how the dam’s operation might impact their water security. Egypt, which depends on the Nile for 97% of its water needs, views any unilateral control over the river as an existential issue.
Despite stalled negotiations in recent years, Abiy signalled Ethiopia’s willingness to re-engage in dialogue and assured that the dam would “not come at the expense” of Egypt or Sudan.
Will shared rivers in Africa spark future conflict or force a new era of diplomacy and regional cooperation?
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𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: The article has reference to open sources including BBC and Al Jazeera.