Ethiopia’s new dam is causing a rift with Egypt: Summary

What we know

• Egypt has strongly criticised Ethiopia’s announcement that it has completed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), saying it threatens the water rights of downstream nations.
• The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said Ethiopia’s actions were unilateral and go against international law.
• The $4 billion dam on the Blue Nile, now fully built after more than a decade of work, has caused long-running tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.
• Talks between the three countries have failed to produce a deal on how the dam should operate, especially during droughts.
• While Ethiopia says the dam will boost electricity and development, Egypt fears it could cut its share of Nile water, affecting millions of people.

What they said

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said, “Egypt firmly rejects Ethiopia’s continued policy of imposing a fait accompli through unilateral actions concerning the Nile River.”