itemprop=description content=Opinion - The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) represents a critical milestone in the development of the Horn of Africa and has the potential to unlock immense benefits for sustainable development and regional cooperation. Construction of the dam stems from Ethiopia's desire to harness its extensive water resources and drive economic growth through hydropower generation. Started in 2011, the project was conceived as a catalyst on Ethiopia's path to becoming a r
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam represents a critical milestone in the development of the Horn of Africa and has the potential to unlock immense benefits for sustainable development and regional cooperation. Construction of the dam stems from Ethiopia's desire to harness its extensive water resources and drive economic growth through hydropower generation.
Now, with the construction of the GERD nearing completion, Ethiopians have begun enjoying the bounty of the Abbay, like the Sudanese and the Egyptians, with the partial commencement of power generation. Ethiopians have practically demonstrated the possibility of utilizing the Abbay River without causing harm to the interests of the downstream countries.
The international media has intentionally or ignorantly skipped the fact that the bottleneck on the path to a successful end to the negotiation is Egypt's fixation on obsolete colonial treaties from which it derives the so-called 'historical rights.' If the negotiation is to move ahead, Egypt must realize that the days when the Abbay served only Egypt and Sudan have gone, and agree to the formulation of a new equitable water-sharing arrangement.
External actors, such as the United States, the European Union, and countries in the Gulf region with vested interests in the Horn, have shown varying levels of involvement in the GERD negotiation. Sadly, geopolitical considerations, economic interests, and historic alliances have made their engagement and influence on the negotiation dynamics biased and unacceptable.
The GERD has the potential to bring about significant socio-economic impacts and benefits for all parties involved. Assessing the potential economic benefits for all parties involved, the GERD's successful completion and operation promise immense economic benefits. For Ethiopia, it ensures sustainable energy supply, attracts foreign investment and drives economic growth.
Of course that is not easy to achieve. It requires respecting the rights of others, willingness to compromise, and vision of shared prosperity. Establishing trust and fostering cooperation among the riparian countries present notable challenges. Historical disputes, differing priorities, and perceptions of power imbalances must be overcome through sustained dialogue, confidence-building measures, and a commitment to shared outcomes.There was a problem processing your submission.
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