The Positive Side of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

 Time published on 11 September 2026 an article titled "The Power to Unite Africa" by Josh Wilson.

This is a highly positive article on the recently completed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the largest hydropower project in Africa.  Constructed on the Blue Nile, which provides more than half of the fresh water reaching the Aswan Dam, Egypt has been highly critical of the project.

The author emphasizes that the GERD should be looked at in terms of the additional electricity the project brings to the wider region.  

Ethiopia Moves Forward with Dams on Blue Nile; Egypt Objects

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 9 April 2026 an article titled "Ethiopia-Egypt" by Michael DeAngelo and Liam Karr. 

Ethiopia has solicited bids from international companies to build three dams on the Blue Nile upstream from the existing Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam at a total cost of $10.5 billion over seven years.  Downstream Egypt opposes the construction and sent a letter from President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to President Trump promising "a firm and decisive response" to any future dams.  Theoretically, the United Sates is trying to mediate the dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia.

Cash and Markets in Sudan's Conflict

 The Rift Vally Institute published in October 2025 a study titled "Political Economy of Cash and Markets in Sudan" by Omer Egemi and Calum McLean.  

Sudan is the world's largest displacement and humanitarian crisis.  The study covers Khartoum, the political and economic hub of the country, and the two regions of Kordofan and Darfur in western Sudan during the period from February to April 2025.

Sudan's economy is largely controlled by warring parties, especially the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  The study analyses the political economy dynamics shaping Sudan's crisis with particular focus on aspects affecting cash and markets.

US Offer to Mediate Nile Waters Dispute: Egypt and Sudan Pleased While Ethiopia Is Silent

 The International Crisis Group published on 21 January 2026 an article titled "Egypt Applauds U.S. Promise to Mediate in Deadlocked Nile Dispute" by Michael Wahid Hanna.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the 16 January letter from President Donald Trump to mediate the Nile waters dispute involving Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.  The mediation offer reflects Egypt's core concerns while giving little detail as to how Washington could broker a settlement.

People's Dispatch published on 20 January 2026 a commentary titled "US Re-Engages in GERD Dispute as Tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt Escalate" by Nicholas Mwangi.

The author notes that so far Ethiopia has not publicly commented on the most recent US offer to mediate the dispute.  

Comment: When the United States tried to mediate this dispute during the first Trump administration, Ethiopia perceived that Washington favored the Egyptian position and rejected the outcome.  It has little incentive for accepting US mediation in a second Trump administration.

US Role in Nile Water Dispute

 The Conversation published on 26 September 2025 a commentary titled "Trump's Dip into the Nile Waters Dispute Didn't Settle the Conflict--In Fact, It May Have Caused More Ripples" by Fred H. Lawson, Northeastern University.  

The author reviews unsuccessful efforts by the Trump administration in 2019-2020 to mediate the Nile waters dispute involving Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan.  He adds there is little indication that the current Trump administration is in any better position to solve the problem.  

Podcast on Background and Future Impact of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 26 September 2025 a 39-minute podcast titled "Ethiopia's Grand and Contested Dam" with Murithi Mutiga and Alan Boswell, both with the ICG.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is the largest in Africa and was financed mostly by Ethiopians.  Egypt perceived the dam as a threat to its downstream water supply while Ethiopia saw it as an essential hydropower development project.  Sudan was caught in the middle, seeing both potential benefits and problems, but has recently sided with Egypt.  

Now that the dam is completed, Egypt's major concern as a downstream country is low water flow during successive years of drought in the Nile Basin.  Reduction of tension between Ethiopia and Egypt requires trust building.  In the meantime, there is the possibility of Egyptian proxy activity aimed at Ethiopia.  

Ethiopia's Grand Dam Going Forward

 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 17 September 2025 an analysis titled "The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: A Regional Destabilizer or a New Model for Development?" by Charles A. Ray.

Given that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is now a fact, the issue going forward is one of fairness in sharing the water throughout the Nile Basin. 

China Not Likely to Mediate Nile Waters Dispute

 The South China Morning Post published on 14 September 2025 an article titled "Will China Step in as Egypt and Ethiopia Spar Over Beijing-backed Nile Mega Dam?" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

China has close relations with Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.  Beijing played an important role in financing some aspects of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam infrastructure.  Egypt, a downstream user of Nile water, continues to be displeased with Ethiopia, an upstream user.  It is not likely, however, that China will engage in an effort to mediate Nile water differences between Ethiopia and Egypt.   

Video of Grand Renaissance Ethiopian Dam Inauguration

 Aljazeera published on 9 September 2025 an article and two and one-half minute video titled "Ethiopia Inaugurates GERD Dam Amid Downstream Tensions with Egypt, Sudan."

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on 9 September in the presence of the leaders of Kenya and Somalia.  Leaders of Egypt and Sudan continued to express their fears that the dam will threaten their country's water security.  

Completion of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa's Largest Hydro Project

 The Nanyang Technological University posted on 29 July 2025 an article titled "Ethiopia Wraps Up Construction of Africa's Largest Hydro Project."

Ethiopia has completed construction on the Blue Nile of the $4.2 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa's largest hydroelectric project.  In addition to meeting domestic demand for electricity, Ethiopia is now selling it to Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti, and Tanzania.  The article comes with an excellent picture of the completed dam.  

Comment:  This article makes the same mistake that most reporting makes on this topic by stating that the Blue Nile provides 85 percent of the Nile River's total flow.  The Blue Nile contributes closer to 55 percent of the Nile River's flow.  A combination of the Blue Nile, the Tekeze that feeds directly into the Nile, and the Sobat that feeds into the White Nile contribute about 85 percent of the Nile River's flow.  The Blue Nile is the single most important source of water for the Nile.  All three of these rivers originate in Ethiopia. Their names change as they cross international borders.  

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam: The Role of Key Leaders in Its Development

 The blog of Lawrence Freeman posted on 24 July 2025 an article titled "The Legacy & Vision of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam."

The article examines the historical context of Nile water usage, the roles played by four Ethiopian leaders in advancing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and the dam's prospects for aiding Ethiopia's sovereignty and prosperity.  

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Readying for Inauguration

 Freeman's Africa and the World posted on 13 June 2025 an article titled "Completed Ethiopia Dam -- GERD Can Power East African Nations" by Lawrence Freeman.  

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is scheduled to be inaugurated in September, making it the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa and the 17th largest in the world.  It will have the capacity to generate 5,150 megawatts of electricity.  In addition to providing power for Ethiopia, it will sell power to Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and possibly Tanzania.  

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Poses Diplomatic Challenge for China

 The South China Morning Post published on 21 October 2024 an article titled "Ethiopian Dam Could Muddy the Waters of China's Position as a Global Leader" by Jevans Nyabiage.

Ethiopia and Egypt have long been disputing the construction by Addis Ababa of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.  Ethiopia and Egypt are also among the newest members of BRICS, which will soon meet in Russia.  China, also a member of BRICS, has close ties with Ethiopia and Egypt and may be seen as the party for resolving the differences between the two.  This is not a position that China relishes.  

Wall Street Journal Video on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

 The Wall Street Journal posted on 13 June 2024 a six and one-half-minute video titled "Why Ethiopia's $5 Billion Megadam Worries Egypt and Sudan."

The video reviews the well-known concerns of Egypt and Sudan about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.  It points out that so far the holding back of water behind the dam has not caused any harm to Sudan and Egypt and has actually helped control flooding in Sudan.  The makers of the video were unable to obtain comments from any of the three governments. 

Ethiopia and Egypt Blame Each Other for Failure of Dam Negotiations

 The New Arab published on 20 December 2023 an article titled "Egypt, Ethiopia Trade Blame as Nile Dam Talks Fail."

Egypt and Ethiopia recently completed another round of talks in Addis Ababa concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.  They did not result in any significant progress and both sides blamed the other for the failure.  

Egypt Says Talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Have Failed

 Reuters published on 20 December 2023 an article titled "Egypt Says Talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Have Failed - Statement."

Egypt issued a statement on 19 December that the latest talks with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have failed, adding it would monitor the process of filling and operating the dam.  Egypt said it reserves the right to defend its water and national security interests in case of any harm.

Talks End on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Without Significant Progress

 Aljazeera published on 25 September 2023 an article titled "Second Round of Negotiations on Ethiopia's Mega-dam Wrap Up."

Two days of talks in Addis Ababa involving representatives from Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan ended without making significant progress according to Egypt and with Ethiopia pledging to continue talks "in good faith."  

Comment:  After four seasonal  annual fillings, Ethiopia completed filling the reservoir behind the dam this year.  During this period, there was no apparent harm done to downstream Sudan and Egypt as a result of withholding Blue Nile water in the reservoir.  The river is now flowing normally again through and over the hydropower dam, which is not diverting water for irrigation purposes.   

Reservoir Behind Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Filled; Egypt Condemns Move

 Aljazeera published on 10 September 2023 an article titled "Filling of Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile Complete, Ethiopia Says."

The BBC published on 11 September 2023 an article titled "Egypt Angry as Ethiopia Fills Nile Dam Reservoir Amid Water Row" by Laurence Peter.   

After the fourth and final annual seasonal filling of the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the reservoir is now full.  The government of Egypt condemned the announcement; the government of Sudan has yet to comment.

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Talks End in Cairo Without Tangible Results

 The Middle East Institute published on 5 September 2023 an analysis titled "No News on the GERD Negotiations Is Bad News" by Mirette F. Mabrouk.  

Following a hiatus of two years, recent talks in Cairo involving Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan on differences concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile ended with no tangible progress.  The UAE attempted to broker the most recent agreement by promising $20 billion of investment in all three countries.   

No Immediate Incentive to Negotiate Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Differences

 The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 11 July 2023 an analysis titled "Guardians of the Nile: No Interstate War, No Peace" by Natasha Hall.  

While further talks are needed to resolve outstanding issues concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile, the timing for negotiations is not good, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Sudan.