The Renaissance Dam – a national symbol but a regional quandary
Although the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is due to come into service in 2021, no agreement has yet been found by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan regarding their respective rights to the waters of the River Nile. For nearly a decade, the great Ethiopian dam has been a source of tension between the three countries. Ethiopia sees the €4bn project, which has been entirely financed by Ethiopian taxpayers but has not yet been completed, as a means of making itself self-sufficient in energy and affirming its power in the region.