Biruk Mekonnen Demissie
Credit: Embassy of Ethiopia to the United Kingdom

Ethiopia is preparing to inaugurate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in September 2025. The construction of the Dam was inspired by the lesson Ethiopians took from the devastated famine in 1984 and the resolve to improve the people of Ethiopians' food and energy security.

For Ethiopians, this is far more than a milestone in engineering. It is a deeply emotional, historical and national moment; the realisation of a century-old dream to use the Abbay river, known internationally as the Blue Nile, for development, dignity, and opportunity.

Constructed entirely through domestic resources — without foreign loans or aid— the GERD is a powerful symbol of national unity and determination. Civil servants, farmers, housemaids, shoe shiners, street vendors, refugees and members of the diaspora all contributed, many from modest incomes, purchasing government bonds and donating directly. It is difficult to name a family in Ethiopia that did not play some role. This was not just a public works project. It was a generational mission.

The GERD now stands as Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant on track to double- Ethiopia's Electricity generation. In a country where nearly half the population lacked access to reliable power, this is nothing short of transformative. It offers a clean alternative to firewood, which has long been the default domestic energy source, contributing to deforestation and indoor air pollution, especially harmful to women and children.

Beyond energy access, the dam offers a foundation for industrialization, job creation, agricultural modernization and climate resilience. It powers aspirations, not just turbines.

The Abbay River crosses borders, and so do the benefits of its shared use. Ethiopia has always recognised the Nile a shared resource, belonging to all riparian states. The GERD's potential extends beyond Ethiopia. It offers Sudan improved flood control, reduced sedimentation and dams like Roseires and the opportunity for more reliable water flow during dry Seasons. Egypt, too, can benefit from access to renewable, affordable electricity and reduced water loss through evaporation, given GERD's design with a smaller reservoir footprint compared to Lake Nasser.

Early fears of significant downstream water shortages have not materialized. Since partial operations began, Nile flows have remained stable, and the GERD has helped reduce flood and drought risks through seasonal regulation.

Ethiopia has also demonstrated transparency, inviting Egypt and Sudan to observe the reservoir's filling and assess its impact — invitations they declined. Demands for external involvement in its management disregard Ethiopia's sovereign right to operate infrastructure it has built and financed independently.

Ethiopia has maintained from the start that its goal is not to harm, but to uplift — to light homes, schools and hospitals, and to build a better future. The call has always been for cooperation, never confrontation.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently extended a public invitation to Egypt and Sudan to join Ethiopians in celebrating the GERD's completion this September. He called for a new chapter — one defined by solidarity instead of suspicion, and by constructive dialogue rather than old disputes.

This is not a call to ignore the past. Ethiopia has never denied the importance of dialogue or consultation. But it is a call to recognise that the old frameworks — particularly the 1929 and 1959 water treaties which excluded Ethiopia and most upper riparian nations — no longer reflect today's geopolitical realities or development needs.

Instead of clinging to outdated, exclusionary agreements, Ethiopia encourages all Nile Basin countries to embrace the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA) — a modern, inclusive, and equitable legal instrument grounded in international water law. Ratifying the CFA would pave the way for basin-wide governance, data sharing, and cooperation over the protection of shared water resources. Supporting Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted billions of trees, is a prime example of how environmental efforts in one part of the basin can benefit all. Since approximately 85% of the Nile's water originates in Ethiopia, reforestation there helps enhance water flow, reduce soil erosion, and improve the overall health of the entire Nile Basin ecosystem.

The GERD is not an isolated project. It is part of a broader vision: A region interconnected through energy, trade, and cooperation. Ethiopia is already exporting electricity to Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya, and is in talks with Tanzania and others. This aligns perfectly with the African Union's Agenda 2063, which prioritizes regional integration and sustainable development.

GERD is a practical demonstration of what it means to build 'African solutions to African problems.' The African Union has played an important role in encouraging dialogue around the project, reinforcing the principle that disputes over transboundary resources can and should be resolved within the continent.

The time for argument has passed. The GERD is a reality — a fait accompli — and it is working. Rather than resisting this new chapter, Nile Basin countries have a historic opportunity to shape it together. The benefits are tangible: cleaner energy, regulated flow, enhanced food and water security, and the foundation for long-term peace and prosperity.

We must teach future generations of Nile Basin citizens that cooperation is not only possible — it is profitable. That water should connect us, not divide us. That we cannot move forward if we are always looking backward.

Let us celebrate the GERD together — not as a point of tension, but as a shared triumph. A river after all does not belong to one people. It belongs to all who depend on it — and all who are willing to protect it for the generations to come.