28/07/2025
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba, Ethiopia, on February 20, 2022 [Amanuel Sileshi/AFP]
In a couple of weeks, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the biggest hydroelectric dam on the African continent, will be inaugurated. The construction of this dam has taken more than a decade and has cost nearly $5bn. The government and people of Ethiopia mobilised the funds for this national project from their meagre internal resources. No international financing was made available for this project.
While the construction of the dam has received some international media attention, the media coverage has not made clear the Ethiopian perspective. This is a modest attempt to rectify that problem.
The GERD is constructed on the Blue Nile, which Ethiopians call Abay. Abay means “big” or “major” in several Ethiopian languages. Abay is one of the main tributaries of the Nile River. Although many associate the Nile almost exclusively with Egypt, the river traverses 10 other African cou…
Hidha Haaromsa Itoophiyaa guddicha Itiyoophiyaa magaalaa Gubaatti Fulbaana 20, 2022 [Amanuel Sileshi/AFP]
Torban lama booda Hidhi Haaromsa Ityoophiyaa guddicha (GERD) kan ardii Afrikaa keessatti hidhi humna elektirikii bishaanii guddicha ta’e ni eebbifama. Ijaarsi hidha kanaa waggoota kurnan ol kan fudhate yoo ta’u, gara doolaara biiliyoona 5tti kan dhiyaatu baasii ta’eera. Mootummaa fi ummanni Itiyoophiyaa qabeenya keessoo isaa isa xiqqaa irraa maallaqa pirojektii biyyoolessaa kanaaf walitti qabame. Pirojektii kanaaf faayinaansii idil-addunyaa tokkollee hin argamne.
Ijaarsi hidhichaa xiyyeeffannoo miidiyaalee idil-addunyaa hamma tokko kan argate yoo ta’u, uwwisni miidiyaalee ilaalcha Itoophiyaa ifa hin goone. Kun rakkoo sana sirreessuuf yaalii xiqqaadha.
GERD kun laga Abbayyaa Biluu irratti kan ijaarame yoo ta'u, habashoonni Abaay jedhanii waamu. Abaay jechuun afaanota Itoophiyaa hedduudhaan “guddaa” ykn “guddaa” jechuudha. Abaay laga Abbayyaa gurguddoo keessaa isa tokko.
