Mogadishu, Somalia (Aqri.net) — Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the largest hydroelectric project in Africa, marking a historic moment for the nation’s power ambitions. The dam, situated on the Blue Nile, has stirred optimism at home while raising deep concerns in neighboring Egypt and Sudan.
For Ethiopians like Fanuse Adete, a 38-year-old widowed mother of seven living in Menabichu district just outside Addis Ababa, the milestone represents more than national pride. Her mud-walled hut has relied on kerosene lamps and candles for years. Now, she hopes the GERD will finally deliver electricity to her family.
“I want my children to study under real light, not smoke from kerosene,” Adete told CNN, reflecting the anticipation shared by millions of households still off the grid.
The $4.2 billion project, which Ethiopia says will transform the country into a regional energy hub, is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of power once fully operational. Addis Ababa insists the project is vital for its development, but Cairo and Khartoum fear reduced downstream water flow could endanger their agriculture and drinking supply.
Diplomatic negotiations have so far failed to resolve the dispute, but Ethiopia has pressed forward, underscoring what Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed calls the nation’s “right to use its own resources for progress.”
As celebrations unfold in Addis Ababa, the GERD stands as both a beacon of Ethiopia’s aspirations and a flashpoint in one of Africa’s most pressing geopolitical standoffs.
