Egypt's Choices on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Publisher: E-International Relations
Author(s): Hamdy A. Hassan
Date: 2025
Topics: Basic Services, Conflict Causes, Cooperation, Renewable Resources
Countries: Egypt
A new chapter in the history of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) began with its official inauguration on September 9, 2025. The outlines of the new landscape were clear when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared at the dam’s inauguration ceremony that “To our brothers, Ethiopia built the dam to prosper, to electrify the entire region, and to change the history of black people”. Addressing Egypt and Sudan, “It was certainly not built to harm our brothers”. Egypt expressed grave concern about the dam’s full operation without a binding agreement, asserting that this unilateral action threatens its water and food security. What is the significance of this historic milestone? We are currently confronted with a new geopolitical and economic reality, as the dam has materialized with an installed capacity of 5,150 megawatts. This development introduces novel challenges for Egypt and Sudan, necessitating a comprehensive re-evaluation of their strategic approaches to adapt to the altered circumstances.