Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) for September 2025. He stressed the importance of positive discussions with Egypt amidst ongoing tensions regarding the dam’s impact on Nile water sharing. Ethiopia has continued unilaterally filling the dam’s reservoir, raising concerns in downstream Egypt and Sudan about potential water shortages.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has declared that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be officially inaugurated in September 2025, coinciding with the commencement of the new Ethiopian year. This announcement was made during a parliamentary session on March 20, 2025, and reported by the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA).

Prime Minister Ahmed emphasized the importance of maintaining constructive dialogue with Egypt, affirming Ethiopia’s commitment to collaborative efforts beneficial to both nations. The ongoing tensions among the Nile basin nations have persisted since Ethiopia commenced construction of the dam in May 2011, raising concerns in Egypt regarding its water allocation of 55.5 billion cubic meters.

Following the project’s inception, Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia engaged in a series of negotiations to reach a consensus on the dam’s impact. In 2015, they signed a Declaration of Principles, stipulating that the construction should not adversely affect the downstream nations. However, disputes have arisen regarding the finalization of technical agreements; Egypt accused Ethiopia of impeding progress toward a resolution in October 2019.

Despite Egypt’s opposition, Ethiopia has consistently pursued its own agenda, filling the reservoir of the GERD each year without reaching a consensus with Egypt or Sudan. This unilateral action continues to exacerbate the ongoing conflict surrounding the dam’s operation and its implications for regional water security.

In summary, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the impending inauguration of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam by September 2025. While expressing a desire for positive relations with Egypt, Ethiopia’s unilateral actions regarding the dam’s reservoir filling remain a contentious issue in the Nile basin negotiations, highlighting significant challenges ahead for cooperative water management among the involved nations.

Original Source: www.egypttoday.com

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