Ethiopia has announced the completion of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s reservoir filling, disregarding mounting regional objections.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed affirmed the milestone, saying external pressure would not derail the mega-dam’s progress. Downstream nations Egypt and Sudan rely heavily on the Nile and fear the project could upend vital water supplies.
Talks between the three countries have made little headway after years of deadlock. Egypt and Sudan wanted a binding deal before reservoir filling commenced, but were rebuffed.
With this final phase, Ethiopia appears unwilling to delay operations further, despite rising tensions. The dam is projected to generate over 6,000 megawatts of power critical for Ethiopia’s development.
But Cairo and Khartoum warn filling the vast reservoir too rapidly could severely reduce their water access. They may now seek intervention from parties like the United States and United Nations.
Ethiopia’s ambitions and Egypt’s anxieties seem irreconcilable. Yet both sides must recognise their interdependence and the need for equitable sharing. With flexibility and goodwill, mutually beneficial solutions are still attainable.
No nation can dam the flowing bonds of geography and history that the Nile’s waters nourish. Reason must prevail where the great river bends through all their hearts.