Ethiopia has announced that it will officially inaugurate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in September 2025, extending formal invitations to Egypt, Sudan, and all Nile Basin countries to attend the ceremony. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the event as a monumental display of regional partnership and shared progress.
Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that the dam offers a “shared opportunity” supplying abundant electricity while heeding the interests of downstream neighbours. He reassured that the inauguration will not compromise water access in Egypt or Sudan, and expressed hope that the project will contribute to collective prosperity.
Ethiopia’s statements follow years of tension and unresolved negotiations with Egypt and Sudan over Nile water-sharing agreements. While Addis Ababa points to multilateral initiatives like the Nile Basin Initiative, both Egypt and Sudan have publicly criticized Ethiopia’s unilateral pre-launch activities. Diplomatic observers warn that the dam’s formal opening could rekindle external disputes unless accompanied by legally binding water-management accords.
Located on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, the GERD is Africa’s largest hydroelectric project. With a reservoir capacity of 74 billion cubic meters and total output projected at over 5,000 megawatts, it is set to double Ethiopia’s power production and enable electricity exports to neighbouring countries.
As the dam nears full operational status, Ethiopia has appealed for joint presence at the ceremony, framing it as a regional milestone rather than a national accomplishment. Whether Cairo and Khartoum will send official representatives remains a key indicator of future cooperation and whether the next phase of GERD diplomacy will shift from unilateral declarations to formal cooperation.
