The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam began generating electricity in 2022.
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The Nile Basin states are keen to see what kind of deal Ethiopia reaches with Egypt and Sudan.
The Blue Nile river passes through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
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Hundreds of rivers are shared between two or more countries – this could be a source of cooperation or conflict.
The raging conflict in Khartoum could negatively affect trade flows through Port Sudan to the rest of the world.
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Sudan’s current conflict will have economic, social and political ripple effects across a number of countries
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South Sudan’s diplomatic support around energy and water is much sought after in Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.
The sluice gates open at the Owen Falls dam across the White Nile in Uganda on 14 October 1962.
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The mega dam in Jinja was meant to give Uganda energy independence, but this was constrained by Britain’s agricultural interests in Egypt.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (centre) is hosted in Cairo by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in June, 2022.
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Ethiopia’s direct engagement with Somalia’s regional governments will likely weaken the prospects of restoring a functioning Somali state.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ethiopia.
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Communicating scientific findings is a potential route to reach common ground and avoid political tensions in the Nile region
Supporters of Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice opposition party rally at Maskel Square in Addis Ababa, on June 16, 2021.
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A new government with popular legitimacy will have power to address lingering political, economic and security challenges.
Ethiopian protestors march down 42nd Street in New York during a “It’s my Dam” protest on March 11, 2021.
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Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt and their neighbours could deploy large-scale solar and wind farms, connected by a regionally integrated power grid.
Survivors of the violence in Benishangul-Gumuz gather in a circle at a displaced persons camp in Chagni, Ethiopia in December 2020.
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It’s a confluence of local, regional, national and, possibly, foreign interests.
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It won’t be easy to get the 11 countries in the basin to agree to a plan that avoids chronic water shortages in the future. Good information sharing and technical cooperation are critical.
Workey Tadele, a radio operator, at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near Guba in Ethiopia in December 2019.
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America has historically been a strong Ethiopia ally, but this latest move to withhold foreign direct assistance has thrown its loyalty into question.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a 145-metre-high, 1.8-kilometre-long concrete colossus is set to become the largest hydropower plant in Africa.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Egypt wants a guarantee that the filling and operation of the Renaissance Dam will not affect the rights it got in 1959.
Ethiopian Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy Seleshi Bekele (C) attends a meeting with his Egyptian and Sudanese counterparts, in Khartoum, Sudan, 21 December 2019.
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The Nile Treaties prevent upstream countries from using the waters of the Nile without the consent of those downstream. This results in an Egyptian bias.
The Nile river in Cairo.
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Instead of allocating the Nile waters based on a fixed, perpetual water supply Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt must consider changes in weather patterns, among other factors.
Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, which is under construction, is a source of anger for Egypt.
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It’s important for the Nile nations to make Ethiopia’s planned dam work for all.
Hydropower plays a massive role electrifying many countries.
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Many countries in eastern and southern Africa rely on hydropower for electricity generation and there are plans for several more dams.
The leaders of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan signed a Declaration of Principles to move their countries closer to cooperation.
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The leaders of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have shown some commitment to sharing the waters of the Nile. But hard negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam are only beginning.