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Political conflicts arising from transboundary water management – The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Continuing from my previous post, this post will look at The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and how the construction of the dam has caused political clashes between the three countries involved, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. 

The construction of the GERD first started in 2011, and once completed will be the 5th largest in the world (Wheeler et al, 2020). One of the major benefits the dam will bring is hydropower production, which a country like Ethiopia can greatly benefit from to bring energy and power to its people in urban and rural areas. There have been studies that show that energy consumption directly influences the economic development of many countries (Basheer et al, 2021). So, the GERD would significantly improve the economic development of Ethiopia too. However, the downstream countries of Egypt and Sudan disregard it fearing the dam will drastically affect the amount of water available for millions that completely rely on the Nile for their water sources and that the long-term operation of it can lead to future droughts. As a result, Egypt has been proposing changes to the dam from the amount of water that should be filled to the size of the dam, which has created conflict and involved international countries too. 


Egypt has used its international leverage of involving its extensive global connections when it comes to finding solutions during negotiation processes. For example, the USA has threatened to stop development aid to Ethiopia altogether if a resolution is not found. Whereas Ethiopia does not have the same international power to get support from elsewhere, the only way they have been able to do so is through their own residents and its diaspora for funding the dam, as well as Chinese banks (Mbaku, 2020). The key underlying differences between the two countries in terms of development, international leverage and legal aid on an institutional and political level, highlights the challenges of finding a harmonised solution on an effective and sustainable common management of the River Nile (UN Water, 2008). It could be argued that to an extent that this is true, Egypt may have more of a benefit when it comes to expertise and democratic affiliations, but this should be utilised for the benefit of all 11 riparian countries. 

Sharing knowledge and expertise on equitable water resource management is vital and will only significantly improve the growth and development potential of all countries involved, such cooperation is also key especially in today’s climate, where the issues of climate change need to be dealt with now. Climate change is likely to only increase the frequency of flash floods and droughts in the future and is likely to increase panic among Egyptians when water losses are more frequently felt (Wheeler et al, 2020). This paper mentions that the losses are felt more by society than the possible gains and this is the case with Egypt and the GERD, further, fear of potential water losses could spread across the country and lead to the ‘hoarding of seemingly scarce resources’ (Wheeler et al, 2020). To avoid this and further political grievances, and a threat to water availability and security in the Nile Basin, now is the time to share research and co-operate (UN Water, 2008). 

The only way to move forward is to agree on a legal framework co-signed by all 11 countries, yes, the Nile Basin Initiative exists, and Egypt will need to respect this and understand the River Nile is just as much for use by upstream countries too. There needs to be less reliance on international countries to interfere and more on finding joint agreement with just the three countries involved, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Mutual respect and the ability to find resolutions by the governments in the interest of residents themselves is the only way Africa as a continent can start to develop by itself. After all, when a transboundary water basin is jointly managed it will only bring greater economic development, food security, and poverty alleviation.  


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