If truth be told, a country which has been contributing 86% of water to a river has to be well encouraged to develop its resources thereby reaping all potential paybacks out of it. However, Egypt and Sudan have no sleep to obstruct Ethiopia from benefiting out of Abbay knowing that the river almost belongs to it.
This idea is well substantiated by Ethiopian Irrigation and Energy Minister Eng. Silesh Bekele (Ph.D) saying, “If Egypt filled the Aswan Dam and has exclusively been administering it, what is the rationale behind attempting to hinder Ethiopia from solely filling and administrating GERD so long as it doesn’t harm others.”
The Sudanese as people have no shred of doubt on the benefits accrue from the Dam. Their politicians as well unequivocally underlined the advantages in the past. But currently some of the politicians are serving as a wooden horse to the irrational and stubborn Egyptian politicians.
Yes, the decade-long dispute following the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is approaching to be ended at some point since Ethiopia has been committed more than ever before to convert its aimlessly wandering river into a precious source of wealth thereby lifting 65% of its total population out of the darkness they find themselves in.
Here, both Egypt and Sudanese scholars have been witnessing that the filling of the dam will have no significant impact on the waters that flow downstream.
Overlooking this reality, the downstream countries have viewed that the second filling, which would be collecting around 13.5 BCM of water, as a threat to their interests and a violation to the international laws related to Trans-boundary Rivers. However, the reverse becomes true and their allegation is proved to be a baseless reflecting their being envy of Ethiopia’s progress.
In the era of the 21st century where the world is becoming a small village, there is no state of being fool than spending time nagging one another out of the blue setting the reality aside.
Since a new chapter is open for Ethiopia as it has capitalized on well exploiting natural resources especially its Nile water entertaining an equitable and fair water share, consolidating fraternity and cooperation with this great nation is an incomparable weapon to reap mutual benefit through understanding one another.
The sole intention of Ethiopia is simply expand its energy mix and quench its power demand without causing harm on downstream riparian countries.
Interestingly, it was proved effective that heavy rains last year enabled to successfully first fill the GERD.
Likewise, as the second dam filling will take place only during heavy rainfall in next July/August, it will not have an impact of reducing water volume; instead is going to be firm guardian of Sudan from danger.
Hereafter, GERD shouldn’t be a source of tension; rather it has to be that of firm cooperation reaping the fruits of win-win benefits.
Of course, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry recently told the Egyptian Parliament the fact that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) filling will not have significant impact on Egypt.
As to him, GERD second or third water filling will not result in negative repercussion.
Thus as the benefit with which Egypt and Sudan are provided is a matchless value as the dam can rescue them from drought and flooding, they have to be watchdogs of the dam as Ethiopia does.
The Ethiopian Herald 20 April 2021
