Ethiopia has called on Egypt to “abandon its aggressive approach” towards the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as tensions between the two nations intensify. The dispute escalated after Egypt submitted a letter to the UN Security Council accusing Ethiopia of violating international law by continuing to fill the dam without agreements with downstream countries.
In a sharp response, Ethiopia dismissed Egypt’s accusations as “a litany of unfounded allegations” in its own letter to the Security Council. This latest exchange marks a new chapter in the decade-long conflict over the hydroelectric project.
The GERD, under construction since 2011 on the Blue Nile, has been a source of contention, with Egypt viewing the dam as an existential threat. The Nile provides almost all of Egypt’s freshwater, and Cairo fears the dam will disrupt its water supply, particularly in times of drought. Egypt also points to colonial-era treaties, which it claims give it the right to veto upstream water projects.
Ethiopia, however, sees the GERD as crucial to its development, aiming to generate power for millions of households across the country. The dam, set to become Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant, has been filling with water since 2020 and has already begun producing electricity.
Both Egypt and Sudan, the latter also dependent on the Nile, have voiced concerns about the potential threat to their water security. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, including the most recent talks in December 2023, no binding agreement has been reached. Both sides accuse each other of refusing to compromise.
In its letter to the Security Council, Ethiopia claimed Egypt is attempting to “perpetuate its self-claimed monopoly” over the Nile, a sentiment reflecting the long-standing tensions between the two nations. Meanwhile, tensions in the Horn of Africa have grown, with Egypt deepening military ties with Somalia, which has its own grievances with Ethiopia.
Ethiopia and Somalia’s relations have deteriorated since Ethiopia signed a controversial agreement with Somaliland, granting access to the coast and a potential naval base. Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its territory, labeled the deal an “act of aggression.”
Over the weekend, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned that any attack on Ethiopia, whether from “afar or nearby,” would be firmly repelled, though he did not specify which country he was referencing.
The dispute over the GERD shows no signs of resolution, with diplomatic efforts stalling and regional alliances shifting. As Ethiopia continues to fill the dam, the future of Nile waters remains uncertain for the countries that depend on it.
