Conflicting reports emerge on Ethiopia filling Nile dam sans agreement with Egypt, Sudan
The latest talks between the three countries ended yesterday with no deal, though Egypt and Sudan have made it clear they are strongly opposed to the unilateral filling of the GERD without an agreement.
Ethiopia reportedly started filling its controversial mega dam on the Nile River today though no agreement has been reached with Egypt and Sudan. The unilateral action is sure to exacerbate tensions between Ethiopia and the two countries, as both Egypt and Sudan have made their staunch opposition to the move clear.
Ethiopia's public broadcaster, the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, reported that the filling of the dam on the Blue Nile River began today, citing the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy. Reuters also reported the dam is filling based on Minister of Water Seleshi Bekele’s comments on television.
Later, however, Bekele denied the report, saying that "pooling" took place in the dam today due to heavy rainfall.
Ethiopia started building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2011. It is a giant hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile River, which flows into the Nile. Ethiopia wants the dam to provide energy to the country and help lift it out of poverty. Upstream nations Egypt and Sudan believe filling the dam will dangerously deplete the river's water level in their countries. The river and its tributaries play a major part in the east African economy.
