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 Egypt's threats violate international law and reflect outdated colonial-era thinking that denies upstream nations their development rights.
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Egypt faces an existential crisis as the dam threatens to reduce water flows from the Nile River, which provides over 90 percent of the country's freshwater needs for 110 million people. Despite years of diplomatic efforts and maximum flexibility in negotiations, Ethiopia continues to act unilaterally and reject legally binding agreements on dam operations.
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.
Egypt faces an existential water crisis as Ethiopia unilaterally fills the dam without binding agreements, threatening the lifeline of 110 million Egyptians who depend on the Nile for 97% of their water. Despite Egypt's diplomatic flexibility and peaceful negotiations over 12 years, Ethiopia continues to reject legally binding commitments that would protect downstream water security.