Ethiopia rejects Egypt’s flood claims, defends Renaissance Dam

Ethiopia on Saturday rejected Egypt’s claim that it caused Sudanese floods by opening the Grand Renaissance Dam’s gates. Addis Ababa inaugurated Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, the GERD, in early September amid regional tensions over Nile water control.

Cairo has criticised the dam for over a decade, warning it threatens Egypt’s primary water supply, which comes almost entirely from the Nile. On Friday, Egypt’s water ministry accused the dam of releasing vast water volumes, flooding farmlands and submerging Sudanese villages.

Sudanese authorities reported weeks of flooding in several regions, including the capital Khartoum, blaming climate change and exceptional rainfall. Ethiopia’s water ministry called Egypt’s statements “false and defamatory” and accused Cairo of trying to mislead the international community.

The ministry said Sudanese flooding stems from rising White Nile tributary levels, with no connection to Ethiopia’s Blue Nile-based dam. Ethiopia argued that the GERD may have prevented historic destruction of life and infrastructure during this year’s heavy rainfall.

Pietro Salini, CEO of GERD contractor Webuild, explained the dam releases water to generate electricity, regulating rather than increasing the flow. Salini emphasised that the dam’s operations do not alter water quantities, merely controlling their distribution to produce energy safely. The Nile dispute highlights long-standing regional tensions, with Egypt and Sudan demanding safeguards while Ethiopia asserts its sovereign right to harness the river.

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