BY ADDISALEM MULAT
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has reached a grand millstone with ten years on since its commencement. The hallmark project, which is expected to mark a dramatic shift in Ethiopia’s socioeconomic and political development, has entered a final state with 79 percent completed. Being a sovereign project financed by Ethiopians, the colossal dam is also meant to connect millions of people to the grid.
Since the dawn of history however, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been the source of conflict amid Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt though the latters are to blame most.
Notwithstanding the fact that 86% of the Nile waters originates from Ethiopia, the two nations were persistently distancing themselves from the reality on the ground and pouring cold water on the effort of Ethiopia to get to the bottom of the problem in an orderly fashion. As they do not want to face the truth, they every so often come up with untold cooked-up stories to perplex the international community.
No matter what happens, Egypt has never attempted to resolve predicaments related to the Nile River in a calm atmosphere. Instead of resolving the dispute peacefully, it endeavors to destabilize Ethiopia bringing into play a wide variety of hidden factors and hidden topics. The country as well makes use of the Nile River issue as first aid for its internal problems.
In a previous interview Dr. Eng. Tilahun gave to The Ethiopian Herald regarding the Nile River and Egypt said, “Egypt strived to invade Ethiopia for a considerable number of times. Fought so many unjust wars, directly and indirectly, destabilized its peace, organized and supported anti-Ethiopian guerrilla fighters and radical religious extremist groups. It worked hard to destroy the unique classic harmony between Muslims and Christians in Ethiopia. The fact behind all its immoral actions is because it believes that peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia is its external threat,”
He stressed that Egypt did everything possible and continues to do the same today aiming at weakening, destabilizing, and crumbling Ethiopia into so many small pieces of states to keep its dominance on the Nile. Egypt’s veiled agenda was to bring the whole territory under its control and if not to occupy the Nile Basin at any cost. Truly speaking there is no Nile problem as such, the problem they propagate each time is simply a vague problem fabricated by Egyptian officials themselves. Instead of sitting together and play a win-win game they always gamble with Herodotus say “that Egypt is the gift of the Nile” and the agreements of colonial periods.
Approached by The Ethiopian Press Agency, Dr. Aregawi Berhe Gneral Director of the Office of the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation to the construction of GERD said, “People of all kinds unanimously agree on the fact that the GERD benefits both the downstream countries. In spite of this reality on the ground, some internal traitors make an effort to pour cold water on the effort of the government. Sad as it might sound, they do not want the dam to see the day of light by every possible means.
I would venture to say, as these kinds of people are myopic ones and do not care a fig about seeing the growth of the nation, they give prominence to personal purposes and coming to power. As history dictates, there were traitors in the history of the country who have been conspiring against their very homeland. Their evil deeds can be torn and broken down into pieces through collaboration.
“Strictly speaking, by hook or crook, they cannot materialize their dreams in this fashion. In the present climate, as the people of Ethiopia have been standing together more than ever before, traitors do not have the chance to turn their vision into reality,” he continued.
In a fashion similar, following their political stance, TPLF officials have been pulling out all the stops to make an impact on the construction of the GERD.
He elucidated that some of them have been moving heaven and earth to divide the population as a whole and stoke unrest and create a domino effect on the dam despite all their efforts went for nothing. For the sake of truth, they turned out to be a stumbling block to some extent. As these forces will be destroyed along with the TPLF Junta officials, they cannot be a threat to the GERD.
There may be as well some people colluding with foreign forces for the love of their personal benefits. But no matter how hard they try, they cannot halt Ethiopia and twist its arms.
Professor Yacob Arsano, Addis Ababa University Political Science lecturer and a researcher on Nile issues, told The Ethiopian Press Agency that the Ethiopian Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC) had made the construction of the GERD not to go according to schedule. Against this background, the public and the government expenditure increased.
Everybody unanimously agrees on the fact that Egypt poses imminent threat to Ethiopia’s national interest. The country portrays itself as the only rightful owner of the Nile River. Aside from condemning Ethiopia for utilizing its natural resources, Egypt managed to disseminate a tsunami of disinformation worldwide. In the present climate, it seems that Sudan is following in the footsteps of Egypt.
According to my thinking, people who endeavor the GERD not to be functional according to schedule have been making mistakes in various ways. These kinds’ people do not seem to have understood the definition of national interest and the fact that the growth of Ethiopia benefits their children and their grandchildren down the road.
Aside from ensuring access to electricity, Ethiopia will familiarize itself with the global electricity market. When the dam becomes operational, it is possible to monetize the generated electric power by selling to Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Spain on sale.
According to Associate Professor Ayele Bekeri , lecturer of History at Mekelle University ,at the time when Ethiopia laid the foundation stone for the construction of GERD, the country did not fail to recall equitable and reasonable utilization of water. While on the subject, the project was initially planned to construct in 1956. However, in the present climate, the dam is heading in the right direction in the sense of ensuring Ethiopia and the upstream and downstream countries cooperation.
Effectuating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam plays an important role in changing the old political thinking and belief that the Nile River belongs merely to Egypt. Apart from breaking the yoke of injustice and monopoly, the GERD boosts socio-economic benefits.
However, we witness a range of predicaments about the GERD. When the GERD sees the day of light, Egypt’s monopoly will be broken on the Nile River for once and for the last and will get back on track
The Ethiopian Herald 4 April 2021
