Addis Ababa – Ethiopia will inaugurate the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Tuesday, marking a historic moment for the Horn of Africa nation and the continent at large. The $4.8 billion megastructure, towering over the Blue Nile, is Africa’s largest hydroelectric project and has long been hailed by Ethiopians as a symbol of resilience, self-reliance, and modern nation-building.

Constructed with domestic financing after international lenders initially declined to back it, GERD is expected to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity, providing power to tens of millions of Ethiopians who currently live without reliable access to energy. The project is seen in Ethiopia as a cornerstone for economic transformation and a rallying point for national pride.

Yet, as Addis Ababa celebrates, controversy continues to ripple downstream. Egypt, which depends on the Nile for nearly all of its freshwater supply, has consistently expressed fears that the dam will reduce the river’s flow and threaten its water security, calling the project an “existential threat.” Sudan, too, has raised concerns about water regulation and safety risks.

For over a decade, negotiations among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan—mediated at different times by the African Union and international partners—have failed to produce a binding agreement on how the dam should be filled and operated.

Foreign media coverage reflects both the sense of achievement in Ethiopia and the unease across the region. Al Jazeera highlights Egypt’s deep concerns over water scarcity; Africanews emphasizes the ongoing disputes with Sudan and Egypt; while China’s CGTN underscores the dam’s role as a landmark in African development, built entirely through domestic resources and symbolizing regional ambition.

As the inauguration takes place, the GERD embodies two narratives: a triumph of African self-reliance and modernization on one hand, and a flashpoint for one of the world’s most delicate transboundary water disputes on the other.