Egypt Daily News – Ethiopia has called for dialogue on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan in a statement on Thursday. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that the dam will ensure a year-round water flow once completed and will not harm the downstream nations.
The lack of an agreement between the three countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan) has heightened political tensions, leading to the issue being referred to the United Nations Security Council, which has held two sessions on the matter without reaching a decision.
Ethiopia began constructing the GERD on the Blue Nile in 2011, stating that its goal is to generate electricity. However, Egypt fears that the dam will negatively impact its share of the Nile’s water, while Sudan is increasingly concerned about the potential damage to its water infrastructure and reduction in its water supply.
In another matter, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea is an existential necessity, but it will be pursued through dialogue and peace rather than war. He assured that he would not engage in conflict with Eritrea to obtain a seaport.
He added that “war is not an option for reaching the Red Sea, whether with Eritrea or Somalia,” stressing that “his government is working for peace.”
Regarding the Tigray region, Abiy Ahmed affirmed that the crisis will be resolved peacefully, reiterating his government’s commitment to implementing the Pretoria Agreement and ensuring that there will be no return to war in the region. He concluded by stating that “the administration of the Tigray region has come to an end, and a new administration will be formed until elections are held.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has faced widespread criticism in Egypt due to his contradictory positions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). While he previously pledged not to harm Egypt, he has continued to take unilateral actions regarding the filling and operation of the dam without reaching an agreement with Cairo and Khartoum.
This approach has led to a loss of credibility for him in the eyes of the Egyptian side, especially as Ethiopia continues to ignore Egypt and Sudan’s concerns about the dam’s impact on their water shares, further escalating tensions between the three countries.
