Fear and Tension Grow as Nile Dam Nears Completion

By Abby Burczyk

The near completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has raised great concern for Egypt and Sudan. With the dam building its water reservoir using water from the Blue Nile, downstream countries are increasingly worried about the restriction of water flow into their countries. Sudan utilizes the River Nile for almost all of its freshwater needs including maintaining its population of 48 million people. Egypt, like Sudan, uses the water from the Nile to sustain its population, but also heavily relies on the water flow to maintain economic endeavors, such as maintaining a healthy production of cotton. Leaders from Egypt are estimating the decrease in 2% of the water flow into the country could result in the total loss of over 200,000 acres of land which benefits from irrigation. With the area around the Nile being particularly dry, periods of drought seem to be the greatest concern for downstream countries. Egypt recognizes the capability of Ethiopia to now assist in drought relief by maintaining a large reservoir of water but is fearful Ethiopia could use this for their own self-benefit by prioritizing energy production over water regulation. Egypt has been relying on the Aswan High Dam to make up for lost water due to the filling of the GERD, yet it does not compare. The water reserve created by the GERD is reported to be the largest in Africa, spanning in size larger than London.

Though parts of the Nile touch 11 African states total, the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1929 has given Egypt and Sudan primary control of the river including the overall say in projects concerning the water source. The Ethiopian government has contested the disapproval of dam construction by the Egyptians and Sudanese with optimisms of greater energy production, flood regulation and the increase supply of water during the dry periods. The GERD was intended to be a development resource for many African countries nearby. The designers of the dam believe it has the capability to make Ethiopia the leading electricity exporter in Africa. It is clear that Ethiopia currently maintains the most power in this conflict over the Nile with the construction of the GERD. The Ethiopian government must now prove to all Nile countries that the construction of this dam is a promise of development and peace instead of a declaration of power.