Addis Ababa (AMECO)— Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) represents the first chapter in a long-term strategy to break out of historical poverty, according to water management experts and government officials asserting the nation’s right to equitably harness its natural resources.
Addressing persistent national energy deficits, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reiterated that the mega-dam was built not to harm downstream nations—Egypt and Sudan—or restrict water flow, but to extend electricity to the more than 60% of the Ethiopian population currently living in darkness. Abiy emphasized that the Nile River remains a shared natural asset capable of driving joint economic development for both upstream and downstream states.
With over 85% of the Nile’s water originating in the Ethiopian highlands, researchers maintain that utilizing the river for domestic energy and equitable development is a fundamental necessity.
Speaking to Gazetta Plus, Professor Yilma Seleshi, a water engineering lecturer at Addis Ababa University, explained that Ethiopia has only begun to tap the river’s potential while ensuring downstream interests remain uncompromised. Seleshi noted that the Nile basin possesses an estimated power generation capacity of 45,000 megawatts, asserting that Ethiopia holds a full, transparent, and legal right to develop these waters equitably.
According to Professor Yilma, persistent diplomatic friction from Cairo stems not from a tangible drop in water volume, but from concerns over losing its historic unilateral dominance over the river.
Dr Elias Gebeyehu, director of the Water Resources Research Centre at Arba Minch University’s Water Technology Institute, echoed this assessment, stating that historical attempts to stall Ethiopian development through diplomatic pressure, propaganda campaigns, and threats have proved ineffective.
Dr Elias noted that as Ethiopia continues to consolidate its water development rights, regional dynamics are evolving. Unable to halt Ethiopia’s domestic energy projects along the Nile, Cairo is now attempting to shift its focus toward opening a new line of geopolitical friction in the Red Sea region. However, Dr Elias expressed confidence that the national resilience demonstrated during the construction of the GERD would carry over into Ethiopia’s broader development and geopolitical endeavors.
Academic leaders underscored the need for researchers to continue advancing science-based frameworks to communicate Ethiopia’s natural rights to the international community, ensuring that sustainable development and equitable resource-sharing remain central to the region’s future.
