{"id":20118238,"date":"2025-07-04T16:54:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T14:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20118238"},"modified":"2025-07-04T16:58:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T14:58:42","slug":"ethiopia-to-inaugurate-gerd-in-september-invites-sudan-and-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/ethiopia-to-inaugurate-gerd-in-september-invites-sudan-and-egypt","title":{"rendered":"Ethiopia to inaugurate GERD in September, invites Sudan and Egypt"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Thursday that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be officially inaugurated this September, hailing the massive hydropower project as a symbol of regional cooperation and mutual benefit.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the Ethiopian parliament yesterday, Ahmed dismissed concerns raised by critics by extending an invitation to Sudan, Egypt, and all Nile Basin countries to attend the ceremony, adding, \u201cWe have no ill intention; we don\u2019t want Egypt and Sudan to be harmed<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a common opportunity,\u201d he said. \u201cThe energy and development it will provide will advance not only Ethiopia, but the entire region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He insisted that the dam had not affected Egypt\u2019s Aswan Dam, nor caused any measurable water loss, and reaffirmed that Ethiopia\u2019s development will not come at the expense of its neighbours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Sudanese international law expert and water specialist Dr Ahmed El Mufti expressed scepticism over the Prime Minister\u2019s remarks, describing them as \u201cnot new\u201d and \u201crepeated since 2011 without being matched by actions that reflect cooperation or good faith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll steps to construct and operate the dam were carried out unilaterally, despite objections from Sudan, Egypt, the Arab League, and the African Union,\u201d El Mufti said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called the upcoming inauguration \u201cprovocative\u201d and \u201ca clear disregard for the international community,\u201d warning that unless\u00a0disaster strikes<\/a>\u00a0in the form of water shortages or safety failures, \u201cthis situation is likely to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Launched in 2011 with a $4 billion budget, the GERD is Africa\u2019s largest hydroelectric project and a major source of national pride for Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, it is central to Ethiopia\u2019s push to expand electricity access and drive economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethiopia views the dam as essential, but Egypt and Sudan see it as a threat to their share of Nile waters. Built without a\u00a0binding agreement<\/a>, the dam has fuelled years of tension over water rights, filling timelines, and regional influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Declaration of Principles signed in 2015 has yet to result in a legal framework.<\/p>\n