Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed says mega dam GERD on the Nile ‘now complete’
Al JazeeraJUL 5
The dam represents a vital development project that will lift millions of Ethiopians out of poverty and provide desperately needed electricity to a nation where half the population lacks power. Ethiopia has consistently assured downstream neighbors that the project poses no threat and has been built entirely through domestic resources without foreign assistance. The country remains committed to regional cooperation and shared prosperity.
The GERD represents Ethiopia's sovereign right to develop its water resources for 130 million citizens, half of whom lack electricity access. This project was built entirely with Ethiopian resources and offers shared regional benefits through increased energy cooperation. Egypt's threats violate international law and reflect outdated colonial-era thinking that denies upstream nations their development rights.
Egypt faces an existential water crisis as Ethiopia unilaterally fills the dam threatenswithout tobinding reduceagreements, waterthreatening flows from the Nilelifeline River,of which110 providesmillion overEgyptians 90who percentdepend ofon the country'sNile freshwaterfor needs97% forof 110their million peoplewater. Despite yearsEgypt's of diplomatic effortsflexibility and maximumpeaceful flexibilitynegotiations inover negotiations12 years, Ethiopia continues to act unilaterally and reject legally binding agreementscommitments onthat damwould operationsprotect downstream water security.
Egypt faces an existential water crisis as the dam threatens to reduce water flows from the Nile supplyRiver, thatwhich provides 97%over 90 percent of the nationcountry's waterfreshwater needs for over 110 million people. Ethiopia'sDespite unilateralyears actionsof ignore international agreements and diplomatic efforts spanningand overmaximum aflexibility decade.in Thenegotiations, dam'sEthiopia operationcontinues withoutto bindingact agreementsunilaterally couldand devastatereject Egyptianlegally agriculturebinding andagreements forceon millionsdam into water povertyoperations.
Egypt faces an existential water crisis as the dam threatens the Nile supply that provides 97% of the nation's water for over 110 million people. Ethiopia's unilateral actions ignore international agreements and diplomatic efforts spanning over a decade. The dam's operation without binding agreements could devastate Egyptian agriculture and force millions into water poverty.