Ethiopia Declares Completion of Renaissance Dam Amid Ongoing Dispute with Egypt

Edited By : Aminata Diallo

After nearly fourteen years of construction, Ethiopia has announced the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a massive hydroelectric project that has long been a source of sharp tensions between Addis Ababa and Cairo. The announcement has reignited diplomatic friction in the Horn of Africa, casting a shadow over the Nile Basin’s fragile balance.

On July 3, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared before Parliament that the GERD is now “fully completed” and slated for official inauguration in September. Located in Guba, western Ethiopia, the dam is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Africa and a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s energy ambitions.

However, the declaration was swiftly condemned by Egypt. In a statement published by Al-Arabiya, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources Hani Sewilam denounced the dam as an “illegal project” and accused Ethiopia of “violating international law.” He also criticized what he described as Addis Ababa’s “lack of political will,” claiming that the country was pursuing “hegemony over the Nile” rather than fostering cooperation and regional partnership.

Despite these accusations, Prime Minister Abiy sought to ease regional concerns during his parliamentary address. “To our downstream neighbors, Egypt and Sudan, our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity,” he stated.

Yet experts argue that these conciliatory remarks are unlikely to resolve long-standing disputes. “The GERD has always been a highly controversial initiative,” said Endalcachew Bayeh, a political scientist at Bahir Dar University. “It has significantly worsened relations between Ethiopia and Egypt, and over the years, it has become an irreversible point of contention.”

The GERD, which began construction in 2011, has been a source of national pride in Ethiopia, symbolizing development and sovereignty. But downstream countries—particularly Egypt, which relies on the Nile for over 90% of its freshwater—view it as a potential existential threat.

Despite various rounds of negotiations and calls from international mediators, the three countries—Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan—have failed to reach a binding agreement on the dam’s filling and operation. With the project now complete, the challenge of finding common ground grows ever more complex.