Egypt criticizes Ethiopia for filling up Grand Renaissance Dam

SGGP September 12, 2023 08:34

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has criticized Ethiopia's filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River, calling it an illegal action.

Grand Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia. Source: VNA

According to the ministry, this “unilateral” measure by Ethiopia will “put pressure” on negotiations with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. These negotiations were suspended in 2021 but resumed on August 27.

In June, Ethiopia announced the fourth filling of the GERD reservoir, despite objections from two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan. Cairo has long viewed the GERD as an existential threat, as Egypt depends on the Nile for 97% of its water needs.

However, the dam is identified as a centerpiece of Ethiopia's development plans, with Addis Ababa announcing the start of first electricity generation from the GERD in February 2022.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ai-cap-chi-trich-ethiopia-tich-nuoc-dap-dai-phuc-hung-post705212.html