With world attention on Ukraine, Nile dam conflict escalates
Egypt and Sudan have condemned Ethiopia's decision to partially start electricity production via the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
It seems international momentum to solve the dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over Addis Ababa's start of operation of its giant and controversial hydroelectric dam is waning in light of the West's preoccupation with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On Feb. 20, Ethiopia announced the partial start of electricity production for the first time from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that it is building on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile.
The move was condemned by the two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, which have repeatedly denounced Ethiopia’s unilateral measures in matters related to filling and operating the dam.
The two countries described the start of power generation as a violation of the Declaration of Principles signed by the three countries in 2015, which prohibits the signatories from taking unilateral measures regarding the use of the Nile River's water.
