Ethiopia announced on Saturday, September 9 that it has completed the filling of its Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile River.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed thanked all Ethiopians after the successful completion of the fourth and final filling of the dam.
“There was a lot of challenge, we were many times dragged to go backwards. We had an internal challenge and external pressure. We’ve reached (this stage) by coping together with God,” Abiy said in a message on X, formerly Twitter.
“I believe that we will finish what we have planned next,” he added.
Addis Ababa considers the mega dam, which has become a source of regional tensions with downstream Egypt and Sudan, as vital to its economy.
The massive $4.2-billion dam sparked tensions ever since its inception in 2011, with Egypt fearing the project will slash its share of the Nile water.
PM Abiy’s announcement comes as negotiations between the three countries resumed August 27 this year.
The current talks aim to reach an agreement that “takes into account the interests and concerns of the three countries.
