August 11, 2026
๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐
The transformation of a historic vision and fondest national dream into tangible reality is rarely felt as vividly as when standing in awe before the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Last weekend, I had the privilege of joining a delegation of diaspora Ethiopians attending the Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference on a remarkable journey to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Organized by the Ethiopian Diaspora Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the trip began with an electric sense of anticipation as our chartered Ethiopian Airlines flight carried us toward the breathtaking Benishangul-Gumuz Region.
Every passenger understood that we were heading to more than a destinationโwe were about to come face to face with our fondest dreams, encounter the most powerful symbol of Ethiopiaโs ambition, resilience, collective strength and greatness.
As the aircraft moved across the Ethiopian skies, excitement filled the cabin: we were only moments away from the place where the aspirations of Ethiopians at home and across the world converge. What happened next was an unforgettable journey into the heart of Ethiopiaโs national renewal.
The Natural Beauty of Benishangul-Gumuz
Long before reaching the dam itself, the landscape of Benishangul-Gumuz captivates the traveler. Situated in northwestern Ethiopia along the border with Sudan, the region offers a lush, tropical contrast to the high-altitude plateaus that characterize much of the country.
The region is said to contain Africaโs largest natural stands of lowland solid bamboo, along with incense-producing trees and gum acacia species. Its expansive savannas and woodlands support diverse wildlife, including baboons, warthogs, antelopes, crocodiles, and endemic bird species along the river basins.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working to leverage this natural environment to establish a sustainable ecotourism model centered around the dam. Through public-private partnerships, international-standard resorts and eco-parks are under development, alongside watershed-conservation projects designed to preserve the Blue Nile basin.
Negat (Dawn) Lake and the Saddle Dam
As our aircraft began its descent toward the GERD landing strip, the expanse of Negatโmeaning โDawnโโLake unfolded below us. Dozens of emerald islands dotted the sunlit reservoir, offering a striking example of how human engineering, human ambition and natural beauty can coexist and magnify each other.
Upon landing, our convoy proceeded directly toward the main site, stopping first at the massive GERD Saddle Dam. Located roughly five kilometers southwest of the main structure, this secondary dam spans the surrounding valley and helps make the vast reservoir possible. From its crest, the immense body of water and the surrounding landscape created a quiet and reflective setting for the main event.
Standing before the primary structure of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, one immediately appreciates the extraordinary scale of the project. The dam rises more than 145 meters from ground level and stretches nearly two kilometers across the riverbed. Its reservoir is designed to hold more than 70 billion cubic meters of water, while the dam can generate up to 5,150 megawatts of clean hydroelectric power.
Watching the rushing waters of the Abayโthe Blue Nileโcarries immense emotional weight. For generations, the river was celebrated in Ethiopian art and folklore as a mighty force flowing beyond the countryโs borders. Today, it stands as a central pillar of national electrification and industrial growth.
๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ, ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐. ๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐, ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ โ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง.โ
I saw the GERD when the site was little more than a dumpsite filled with rusted metal, equipment, and machinery, with construction virtually halted. I have now seen it rise into what I regard as the crown of the earth and the crown of Africaโa project transforming the landscape and standing among the most important symbols of Ethiopiaโs โ indeed Africaโs — modern aspirations. Witnessing that transformation once again was deeply moving.
A Monument Built by Ethiopians
What elevates the GERD into a symbol of supreme national pride is the story of how it was built. Constructed without foreign loans or conditional external aid, every block of concrete stands as a testament to the labor, savings, and sacrifice of more than 120 million Ethiopians.
Factory workers, rural farmers, civil servants, students, private businesses, and diaspora communities around the world contributed to the project. From modest personal donations to the purchase of bonds and organized fundraising campaigns, the dam became a collective masterpiece supported by the Ethiopian people.
I remember a time when many appeared to have turned their backs on Ethiopia. When Ethiopia approached the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund seeking loans to complete the dam, it was rejected out of hand. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporationโwhich provide debt financing, equity investments, and political-risk insurance for major private and public projectsโwould not even engage with Ethiopia on a loan. To add insult to injury, the DFC imposed sanctions on Ethiopia over alleged human-rights violations.
The Biden administration vindictively removed Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The European Commission, which leads the Global Gateway initiative and manages programs such as the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund and the Africa Investment Platform, would not answer Ethiopiaโs calls. Even the African Development Bank closed its doors.
๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐. ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ-๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ-๐ฆ๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ : โ๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ, ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ.โ ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐.
When the World Turned Away
The GERD stands not only as a national infrastructure project, but also as a story of perseverance, cooperation, and collective responsibility.
For generations, Ethiopians sang melancholic songs about the Blue Nileโa river that helped sustain civilization elsewhere while much of its homeland remained in darkness.
Back in the day, we used to sing โAbbay Madoโ by Mahmour Ahmed, a song glorifying the labor, hard work, resilience, and daily life of Ethiopian farmers working the lands around the Abbat River.
Over the past several years, I have written odes (poems) about Abai. https://shorturl.at/8Wp2C The GERD broke that cycle. It demonstrated that Ethiopia could harness its own natural resources to advance electrification, industrialization, and economic development.
The project also emerged in the face of persistent doubt and external pressure. Ethiopiaโs friends, adversaries, and so-called frenemies repeatedly said that the dam could not be built. They described it as impossible or as a pipe dream. They argued that Ethiopia was too poor, too fragmented, and too burdened by conflict, war, and political strife to complete a megaproject that would become Africaโs largest hydroelectric dam.
The effort to deny Ethiopia access to international financing was widely viewed as orchestrated by Egypt which used its diplomatic muscle to arm twist major international financial institutions from supporting the project. Egypt pulled out all the stops to keep Ethiopia bound to colonial-era water arrangements rather than facilitate equitable regional development. The Trump administration even attempted to pressure Ethiopia into an agreement that patently and unashamedly favored Egypt. Ethiopia responded firmly: โWe shall not be moved.โ It walked away.
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
When the world turned its back on Ethiopia, Ethiopia turned inward and homeward.
Ethiopians decided to shoulder the approximately $5 billion cost of the GERD through domestic resources, avoiding dependence on external foreign loans and international institutional aid. They developed a self-reliant financing model based on local banks, citizen bond purchases, public salary contributions, and direct donations.
The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia provided the overwhelming majority of the capital and served as the principal financial pillar of construction. The Ethiopian government issued special GERD bonds targeting individual citizens, private businesses, and public institutions. Civil servants and public-sector employees regularly contributed a designated portion of their monthly salaries. Ordinary citizens from every income group, including students and rural farmers, made direct cash donations.
Ethiopians living abroad also purchased bonds and organized fundraising events through local embassies and diaspora associations, contributing both financial resources and moral support. The dam became an expression of national ownership in the fullest sense: Ethiopians were not merely waiting for development to arrive; they were financing and building it themselves.
The GERD was officially inaugurated on September 9, 2025, marking the completion of Africaโs largest hydropower project after 14 years of construction. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led the ceremony and declared the dam fully operational, with its maximum installed capacity of 5,150 megawatts available to the national grid.
In his inauguration address, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that the approximately $5 billion project, financed through domestic resources and public bonds, was built to โelectrify the entire regionโ and serve as a symbol of African self-sufficiency rather than a threat to neighboring countries.
He added:
โThe GERD will be remembered as a great achievement not only for Ethiopia, but for all black people. I invite all black people to visit the dam. It demonstrates that we, as black people, can achieve anything we planโฆ
“Growth and prosperity come through cooperation. Those who initiated, supported, and fought for this project have etched their names into the history of the Renaissance Dam. To all who gave, whether through finances, knowledge, energy, media, diplomacy, or professional skill, you are forever remembered as Ethiopiaโs dedicated children.โ
The event featured dignitaries from across Africa, including the presidents of Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya. Leaders from downstream nations, including Egypt and Sudan, did not attend because of continuing disputes over Nile water security.
Powering Ethiopia and the Region
๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ, ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ.
Today, approximately 50 percent of Ethiopiaโs total power generation comes from the GERD, fulfilling the projectโs goal of doubling the countryโs power output. In 2026, national electricity coverage has reached nearly 57 percent, with urban areas enjoying near-universal access at 94.7 percent, while rural connectivity remains lower at approximately 43.6 percent.
The second-largest dam in Africa, the Koysha Dam, is scheduled to come online in 2028. Ethiopia currently exports electricity to Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania. Ethiopian Electric Power has signed memorandums of understanding to begin exports to South Sudan and is negotiating with Somaliland, Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia.
๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฌ. ๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ, ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ.
An Emotional and Spiritual Experience
Abbay River has always been a source of spiritual yearning and a dream deferred for all Ethiopians. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is not merely an engineering marvel. It is physical proof that Ethiopiaโs future can be bold, confident, and entirely its own.
As I watched my fellow visitors stand on the crest walkway looking at Negat Lake, feel the cool air rising and brushing their faces, and observe the expansive water reflecting the vast Ethiopian sky, I could see that they were undergoing the same deeply emotional experience I had felt.
From the top of the dam, one can look across its nearly two-kilometer length, toward distant mountains covered in green forest and valleys that shepherd the Abay River toward its eternal destination. The serene waters of Negat Lake and the surrounding landscape inspire a profound spiritual feeling.
๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐: ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ (๐๐ข๐ฅ๐) ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐, ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐, ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฒ! ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐/๐/๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
A Destination of National Pride
A visit to the GERD is far more than an ordinary sightseeing excursion. It is a pilgrimage to the beating heart of modern Ethiopian pride and perseverance. Standing before this monumental achievement along the mighty Abay, one can feel what unity, self-reliance, and national dedication can accomplish.
The dam offers visitors the opportunity to admire its architecture, observe the vast reservoir, appreciate the surrounding landscape, and learn about the people and institutions that made the project possible. With thoughtful investment in roads, accommodation, environmental protection, and community-based tourism, Benishangul-Gumuz can become an outstanding destination for travelers interested in nature, engineering, history, and African development.
๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐, ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฆ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐, ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐. ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐, ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐.
To gaze across the sweeping reservoir is to experience an unmistakable surge of patriotism and hope for Ethiopiaโs and Africaโs future. Adding the GERD to oneโs travel bucket list means honoring a watershed moment in Ethiopian and African historyโone in which modern ambition meets ancient strength and every visitor can experience a profound connection to the Ethiopian people and Ethiopiaโs greatest contemporary achievement.
๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ, ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ; ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ซ, ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ณ๐, ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ:
โ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐.โโค๏ธ
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Ethiopian Diaspora Service and the Ministry of Tourism for organizing this deeply inspiring journey. I extend my special thanks and appreciation to Ambassador Fitsum Arega and his office for their tireless efforts to integrate diaspora Ethiopians into Ethiopian society in every way possible.
My special thanks go to:
The GERD management and staff, whose warm welcome and gracious hospitality made us feel truly at home.
The crew and ground Staff of Ethiopian AirlinesโThe New Spirit of Africaโfor flying us with care and ensuring a seamless journey from sky to the ground.
Our professional drivers and hospitality teams, whose pleasant energy and welcoming care made every moment at the GERD unforgettable.
Most of all, my deepest appreciation goes to every member of the Ethiopian diaspora who took part in this bucket list pilgrimageโwho came to see, to witness, to breathe it in, and to believe in our collective strength.
๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ , ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง.
๐๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐:
https://forms.gle/ddbjSYZQzy5Wt44bA
https://ethiopiandiasporaservice.gov.et
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง [๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ] ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐) ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!
Originally appeared on X (Twitter)
https://x.com/AlMariam1/status/2087208896427327620
August 11, 2026
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐
The transformation of a historic vision and fondest national dream into tangible reality is rarely felt as vividly as when standing in awe before the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Last weekend, I had the privilege of joining a delegation of diaspora Ethiopians attending the Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference on a remarkable journey to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Organized by the Ethiopian Diaspora Service in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the trip began with an electric sense of anticipation as our chartered Ethiopian Airlines flight carried us toward the breathtaking Benishangul-Gumuz Region.
Every passenger understood that we were heading to more than a destinationโwe were about to come face to face with our fondest dreams, encounter the most powerful symbol of Ethiopiaโs ambition, resilience, collective strength and greatness.
As the aircraft moved across the Ethiopian skies, excitement filled the cabin: we were only moments away from the place where the aspirations of Ethiopians at home and across the world converge. What happened next was an unforgettable journey into the heart of Ethiopiaโs national renewal.
The Natural Beauty of Benishangul-Gumuz
Long before reaching the dam itself, the landscape of Benishangul-Gumuz captivates the traveler. Situated in northwestern Ethiopia along the border with Sudan, the region offers a lush, tropical contrast to the high-altitude plateaus that characterize much of the country.
The region is said to contain Africaโs largest natural stands of lowland solid bamboo, along with incense-producing trees and gum acacia species. Its expansive savannas and woodlands support diverse wildlife, including baboons, warthogs, antelopes, crocodiles, and endemic bird species along the river basins.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working to leverage this natural environment to establish a sustainable ecotourism model centered around the dam. Through public-private partnerships, international-standard resorts and eco-parks are under development, alongside watershed-conservation projects designed to preserve the Blue Nile basin.
Negat (Dawn) Lake and the Saddle Dam
As our aircraft began its descent toward the GERD landing strip, the expanse of Negatโmeaning โDawnโโLake unfolded below us. Dozens of emerald islands dotted the sunlit reservoir, offering a striking example of how human engineering, human ambition and natural beauty can coexist and magnify each other.
Upon landing, our convoy proceeded directly toward the main site, stopping first at the massive GERD Saddle Dam. Located roughly five kilometers southwest of the main structure, this secondary dam spans the surrounding valley and helps make the vast reservoir possible. From its crest, the immense body of water and the surrounding landscape created a quiet and reflective setting for the main event.
Standing before the primary structure of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, one immediately appreciates the extraordinary scale of the project. The dam rises more than 145 meters from ground level and stretches nearly two kilometers across the riverbed. Its reservoir is designed to hold more than 70 billion cubic meters of water, while the dam can generate up to 5,150 megawatts of clean hydroelectric power.
Watching the rushing waters of the Abayโthe Blue Nileโcarries immense emotional weight. For generations, the river was celebrated in Ethiopian art and folklore as a mighty force flowing beyond the countryโs borders. Today, it stands as a central pillar of national electrification and industrial growth.
๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ, ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐. ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐, ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ โ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง.โ
I saw the GERD when the site was little more than a dumpsite filled with rusted metal, equipment, and machinery, with construction virtually halted. I have now seen it rise into what I regard as the crown of the earth and the crown of Africaโa project transforming the landscape and standing among the most important symbols of Ethiopiaโs โ indeed Africaโs — modern aspirations. Witnessing that transformation once again was deeply moving.
A Monument Built by Ethiopians
What elevates the GERD into a symbol of supreme national pride is the story of how it was built. Constructed without foreign loans or conditional external aid, every block of concrete stands as a testament to the labor, savings, and sacrifice of more than 120 million Ethiopians.
Factory workers, rural farmers, civil servants, students, private businesses, and diaspora communities around the world contributed to the project. From modest personal donations to the purchase of bonds and organized fundraising campaigns, the dam became a collective masterpiece supported by the Ethiopian people.
I remember a time when many appeared to have turned their backs on Ethiopia. When Ethiopia approached the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund seeking loans to complete the dam, it was rejected out of hand. The U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporationโwhich provide debt financing, equity investments, and political-risk insurance for major private and public projectsโwould not even engage with Ethiopia on a loan. To add insult to injury, the DFC imposed sanctions on Ethiopia over alleged human-rights violations.
The Biden administration vindictively removed Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The European Commission, which leads the Global Gateway initiative and manages programs such as the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund and the Africa Investment Platform, would not answer Ethiopiaโs calls. Even the African Development Bank closed its doors.
๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐. ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ-๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ-๐ฆ๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ : โ๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ, ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ.โ ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐.
When the World Turned Away
The GERD stands not only as a national infrastructure project, but also as a story of perseverance, cooperation, and collective responsibility.
For generations, Ethiopians sang melancholic songs about the Blue Nileโa river that helped sustain civilization elsewhere while much of its homeland remained in darkness.
Back in the day, we used to sing โAbbay Madoโ by Mahmour Ahmed, a song glorifying the labor, hard work, resilience, and daily life of Ethiopian farmers working the lands around the Abbat River.
Over the past several years, I have written odes (poems) about Abai. https://shorturl.at/8Wp2C The GERD broke that cycle. It demonstrated that Ethiopia could harness its own natural resources to advance electrification, industrialization, and economic development.
The project also emerged in the face of persistent doubt and external pressure. Ethiopiaโs friends, adversaries, and so-called frenemies repeatedly said that the dam could not be built. They described it as impossible or as a pipe dream. They argued that Ethiopia was too poor, too fragmented, and too burdened by conflict, war, and political strife to complete a megaproject that would become Africaโs largest hydroelectric dam.
The effort to deny Ethiopia access to international financing was widely viewed as orchestrated by Egypt which used its diplomatic muscle to arm twist major international financial institutions from supporting the project. Egypt pulled out all the stops to keep Ethiopia bound to colonial-era water arrangements rather than facilitate equitable regional development. The Trump administration even attempted to pressure Ethiopia into an agreement that patently and unashamedly favored Egypt. Ethiopia responded firmly: โWe shall not be moved.โ It walked away.
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
When the world turned its back on Ethiopia, Ethiopia turned inward and homeward.
Ethiopians decided to shoulder the approximately $5 billion cost of the GERD through domestic resources, avoiding dependence on external foreign loans and international institutional aid. They developed a self-reliant financing model based on local banks, citizen bond purchases, public salary contributions, and direct donations.
The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia provided the overwhelming majority of the capital and served as the principal financial pillar of construction. The Ethiopian government issued special GERD bonds targeting individual citizens, private businesses, and public institutions. Civil servants and public-sector employees regularly contributed a designated portion of their monthly salaries. Ordinary citizens from every income group, including students and rural farmers, made direct cash donations.
Ethiopians living abroad also purchased bonds and organized fundraising events through local embassies and diaspora associations, contributing both financial resources and moral support. The dam became an expression of national ownership in the fullest sense: Ethiopians were not merely waiting for development to arrive; they were financing and building it themselves.
The GERD was officially inaugurated on September 9, 2025, marking the completion of Africaโs largest hydropower project after 14 years of construction. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led the ceremony and declared the dam fully operational, with its maximum installed capacity of 5,150 megawatts available to the national grid.
In his inauguration address, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized that the approximately $5 billion project, financed through domestic resources and public bonds, was built to โelectrify the entire regionโ and serve as a symbol of African self-sufficiency rather than a threat to neighboring countries.
He added:
โThe GERD will be remembered as a great achievement not only for Ethiopia, but for all black people. I invite all black people to visit the dam. It demonstrates that we, as black people, can achieve anything we planโฆ
“Growth and prosperity come through cooperation. Those who initiated, supported, and fought for this project have etched their names into the history of the Renaissance Dam. To all who gave, whether through finances, knowledge, energy, media, diplomacy, or professional skill, you are forever remembered as Ethiopiaโs dedicated children.โ
The event featured dignitaries from across Africa, including the presidents of Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya. Leaders from downstream nations, including Egypt and Sudan, did not attend because of continuing disputes over Nile water security.
Powering Ethiopia and the Region
๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ, ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ.
Today, approximately 50 percent of Ethiopiaโs total power generation comes from the GERD, fulfilling the projectโs goal of doubling the countryโs power output. In 2026, national electricity coverage has reached nearly 57 percent, with urban areas enjoying near-universal access at 94.7 percent, while rural connectivity remains lower at approximately 43.6 percent.
The second-largest dam in Africa, the Koysha Dam, is scheduled to come online in 2028. Ethiopia currently exports electricity to Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, and Tanzania. Ethiopian Electric Power has signed memorandums of understanding to begin exports to South Sudan and is negotiating with Somaliland, Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia.
๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ฌ. ๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ, ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ.
An Emotional and Spiritual Experience
Abbay River has always been a source of spiritual yearning and a dream deferred for all Ethiopians. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is not merely an engineering marvel. It is physical proof that Ethiopiaโs future can be bold, confident, and entirely its own.
As I watched my fellow visitors stand on the crest walkway looking at Negat Lake, feel the cool air rising and brushing their faces, and observe the expansive water reflecting the vast Ethiopian sky, I could see that they were undergoing the same deeply emotional experience I had felt.
From the top of the dam, one can look across its nearly two-kilometer length, toward distant mountains covered in green forest and valleys that shepherd the Abay River toward its eternal destination. The serene waters of Negat Lake and the surrounding landscape inspire a profound spiritual feeling.
๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐: ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ (๐๐ข๐ฅ๐) ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐, ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐, ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฒ! ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐/๐/๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
A Destination of National Pride
A visit to the GERD is far more than an ordinary sightseeing excursion. It is a pilgrimage to the beating heart of modern Ethiopian pride and perseverance. Standing before this monumental achievement along the mighty Abay, one can feel what unity, self-reliance, and national dedication can accomplish.
The dam offers visitors the opportunity to admire its architecture, observe the vast reservoir, appreciate the surrounding landscape, and learn about the people and institutions that made the project possible. With thoughtful investment in roads, accommodation, environmental protection, and community-based tourism, Benishangul-Gumuz can become an outstanding destination for travelers interested in nature, engineering, history, and African development.
๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐, ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฆ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐, ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐. ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐, ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐.
To gaze across the sweeping reservoir is to experience an unmistakable surge of patriotism and hope for Ethiopiaโs and Africaโs future. Adding the GERD to oneโs travel bucket list means honoring a watershed moment in Ethiopian and African historyโone in which modern ambition meets ancient strength and every visitor can experience a profound connection to the Ethiopian people and Ethiopiaโs greatest contemporary achievement.
๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ, ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฉ; ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ซ, ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ณ๐, ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ:
โ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐.โโค๏ธ
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Ethiopian Diaspora Service and the Ministry of Tourism for organizing this deeply inspiring journey. I extend my special thanks and appreciation to Ambassador Fitsum Arega and his office for their tireless efforts to integrate diaspora Ethiopians into Ethiopian society in every way possible.
My special thanks go to:
The GERD management and staff, whose warm welcome and gracious hospitality made us feel truly at home.
The crew and ground Staff of Ethiopian AirlinesโThe New Spirit of Africaโfor flying us with care and ensuring a seamless journey from sky to the ground.
Our professional drivers and hospitality teams, whose pleasant energy and welcoming care made every moment at the GERD unforgettable.
Most of all, my deepest appreciation goes to every member of the Ethiopian diaspora who took part in this bucket list pilgrimageโwho came to see, to witness, to breathe it in, and to believe in our collective strength.
๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ , ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง.
๐๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐:
https://forms.gle/ddbjSYZQzy5Wt44bA
https://ethiopiandiasporaservice.gov.et
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง [๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ] ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐) ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!
Originally appeared on X (Twitter)
https://x.com/AlMariam1/status/2087208896427327620
Share this: