• Ethiopia officially inaugurated the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on September 9, 2025.
• The GERD, Africa's largest hydroelectric dam, targets 5,000 megawatts of power and holds 74 billion cubic meters of water.
• The inauguration occurs amid persistent water security concerns from Egypt and Sudan regarding the dam's impact on Nile River flow.

After more than a decade of construction, Ethiopia announced the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, approximately thirty kilometers from the Sudanese border.

Ethiopia officially inaugurated the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) this Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has become Africa's largest hydroelectric dam. It boasts a targeted production capacity of 5,000 megawatts and a reservoir of 74 billion cubic meters. Its commissioning will supply electricity to millions of Ethiopians while supporting the growth of key sectors like manufacturing and agriculture.

Inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Damhttps://t.co/vuaoZCd4CC

— EBC WORLD (@ebczena) September 9, 2025

This inauguration occurs amidst persistent tensions with Egypt and Sudan. Since the project's launch in 2011, Cairo and Khartoum have expressed profound concerns about their water security. Egypt depends on the Nile for nearly 90% of its freshwater needs, particularly for agriculture.

According to its Ministry of Water Resources, Egypt currently possesses less than 60 billion cubic meters of water annually. Its needs, however, amount to approximately 114 billion. Cairo fears that uncoordinated reservoir filling could seriously compromise its supply.

Sudan, meanwhile, remains divided between support and mistrust. While the country recognizes the dam's potential benefits, it also worries about the project's consequences for its own downstream dams and agricultural areas.

In 2015, the three countries signed a declaration of principles. This committed them to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. Yet, Ethiopia unilaterally commenced the reservoir's filling in 2020. This process continued without a comprehensive compromise. The UN recommended in 2021 the resumption of negotiations under the African Union's aegis, but no significant progress has been recorded since.

This article was initially published in French by Ingrid Haffiny (intern)
Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum