Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has extended invitations to Egyptian President, Sudanese President and other Nile riparian country leaders to the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in September 2025. The dam, built on the Abbay River since 2011, aims to generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
Construction of the GERD has been a source of tension with Egypt and Sudan due to concerns over water rights. Ethiopia claims the project is necessary for national development, while Egypt and Sudan argue it will harm their “historical” water rights. However, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assured lawmakers that the dam would not cause significant water shortages in Egypt.
The 2015 Declaration of Principles and a recently ratified Cooperative Framework Agreement have aimed to resolve tensions between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. These agreements reserve Ethiopia’s right to carry on with the project while promoting trilateral consultations and fair management of Nile waters.
Egypt and Sudan initially refused to participate in the Cooperative Framework Agreement, citing concerns over colonial-era treaties that granted them hegemonic use of Nile waters. The dispute has sparked tensions among Nile riparian countries for decades, but Ethiopian officials say they remain committed to cooperation and finding a solution that benefits all nations.
Source: https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/45870