Ethiopia has officially launched Africa’s largest dam—GERD—doubling national power and promising regional opportunity, yet stirring fresh water security fears downstream in Egypt and Sudan.
Historic launch fuels national pride, regional ambition, and enduring tensions with Egypt and Sudan
Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on September 9, 2025, celebrating the operational launch of Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility.
GERD – A New Dawn for Africa pic.twitter.com/bo8zHNW6ak
— Ethiopian News Agency (@EthiopianNewsA) September 9, 2025
The $5 billion project, more than a decade in the making, has ignited both national pride and continued unease among its Nile Basin neighbors.
At a grand ceremony beside the Blue Nile, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the dam as a transformative milestone. “We built GERD with the sweat of our people. It is not to harm our brothers, but to light our region and drive growth,” Abiy declared, drawing applause from dignitaries including the leaders of Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya.
For Ethiopians, the inauguration was both symbolic and personal. “We paid for this dam with our salaries, with our hopes,” said Addis Ababa shopkeeper Alemu Getachew, recalling years of domestic fundraising when international financing faltered. “Today, we see what unity can build.”
With a final generating capacity of 5,150 megawatts, GERD doubles Ethiopia’s national electricity output, propelling it into the world’s top 20 hydroelectric power producers.
Grid connections already link the dam to Sudan, Kenya, and Djibouti, with long-term plans for regional export to expand Ethiopia’s role as a continental power supplier.
Neighboring Concerns Mount
But Egypt and Sudan remain wary. In a joint weekend statement, both governments condemned the launch as “unilateral,” renewing fears that Ethiopia could control flows of the Blue Nile—the lifeline for more than 100 million Egyptians.
Cairo reiterated that “Egypt’s water security is a red line,” though a foreign ministry spokesperson stressed that “dialogue remains the only path forward.”
Sudan, whose Roseires Dam lies just 110 kilometers downstream, voiced similar concern while acknowledging potential benefits such as moderated flooding and reduced siltation.
Khartoum resident Fatima Idris expressed the ambivalence many feel: “We fear sudden releases that could harm us, but if the dam prevents flooding, maybe it can also protect our homes.”
Despite the 2015 Declaration of Principles between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan, no binding agreement exists over GERD’s operation.
Analysts say the project could harden regional rivalries—or serve as a foundation for unprecedented cooperation in energy and water management.
Ethiopia insists on the latter. “GERD is a gift to Africa, not a weapon,” Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa said, urging renewed negotiations and inviting all Nile Basin nations to share in the benefits.
More than 14 years in the making and largely financed by Ethiopian citizens, GERD stands as a symbol of self-reliance. For many, it embodies African innovation and economic aspiration in the face of global skepticism.
As the waters churn through the massive turbines, Ethiopia has stepped irreversibly into a new role as a continental energy hub. Whether that role breeds division or integration may define Nile politics for generations.
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