Ethiopia Disputes Trump’s Claims on River Nile Dam Funding

Ethiopia's response highlights the complexities and tensions surrounding the massive hydro-electric project, pivotal for its energy future and contentious for neighboring Egypt and Sudan.

Ethiopian officials have firmly denied claims made by former President Donald Trump that the United States provided funding for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), asserting his statements are false and damaging. Last week, Trump alleged that the controversial dam, a symbol of national pride and aimed at generating electricity for the predominantly power-deprived nation, was constructed "with United States money, largely."

The GERD, the largest hydro-electric facility in Africa, has been under construction for 14 years, primarily financed by the Ethiopian government and contributions from its citizens. The dam has garnered significant attention, particularly from upstream countries like Egypt and Sudan, which express concerns that it may diminish their share of water from the River Nile.

In response to Trump's remarks, Fikrte Tamir, deputy director of the GERD Coordination Office, emphasized that the dam was built without foreign financial aid. Despite the organization's status as an independent entity, it was created to gather resources for the dam project. Ms. Fikrte urged the Ethiopian government to address Trump’s comments diplomatically.

Following her statement, some citizens questioned the extent of the GERD Coordination Office's knowledge concerning any potential agreements between the government and the US, given its autonomous role. Since the dam began generating electricity in 2022 and was recently completed, the Ethiopian government has not publicly addressed Trump's funding assertions.

Notably, this is not the first time Trump has referred to US involvement in the GERD. In a post on his Truth Social platform last month, he labeled the dam as "stupidly financed" by the US and expressed concerns regarding its potential impact on water flow to the Nile.

Located over a mile long and standing 145m high, the GERD is situated in the northern Ethiopian highlands and is critical for Ethiopia’s ambition to provide electricity to its 60% of population that currently lacks access. Initially, the project had a six-year timeline with a $4 billion budget but faced significant delays and cost overruns. Despite the challenges, the Ethiopian government has successfully raised funds through public interest, including bonds and donations from Ethiopian expatriates, collecting 1.7 billion birr ($12.3 million) in the year leading up to July 7.

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