The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which began construction in 2011, is nearing completion, including the filling of a reservoir necessary to provide water flow for an electrical power project. This development provides Ethiopia with major leverage over the countries downriver and could boost Addis Ababa’s power throughout Africa. The GERD also raises the delicate long-term issue of food security for Egypt and Sudan, two countries with large and growing populations that have long histories of drought, famine and flooding. Egypt regards the reservoir as threatening a reduced water flow at its end of the river, which constitutes a national security problem. Supporting Egypt is Sudan, which is where the Blue and White Niles converge and continue their voyage to the river’s delta in the Mediterranean Sea. Diplomacy thus far has failed to resolve the issue. The coming completion of the GERD and its reservoir is a game-changer for Africa and is likely to have long-term consequences for the region’s geopolitical and economic landscape.
Source: https://nationalinterest.org/feature/get-ready-war-over-nile-river-165499