Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Museveni Invited to Ethiopia’s Grand Dam Inauguration as Nile Diplomacy Gains Momentum
By Staff Writer
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed receipt of an official invitation to attend the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), following a high-level diplomatic visit from Ethiopia’s ambassador to Uganda, Her Excellency Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu.
The meeting, held at State House Entebbe, marks a significant step in Ethiopia’s regional outreach ahead of the dam’s official launch, which is expected to take place in Meskerem 2018, the first month of the Ethiopian New Year corresponding to September 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.
In a post on his verified X account, Museveni noted that Ambassador Etsegenet delivered Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s invitation and held discussions on climate concerns, regional stability, and Nile Basin cooperation.
“We discussed the importance of water preservation in mountainous regions and the environmental challenges that could affect river and lake levels,” Museveni stated. He also offered his support for dialogue to resolve ongoing tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Ambassador Etsegenet responded in a statement on X:
“It was an honor and a privilege to convey the invitation from H.E. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of FDRE, to its highest destination, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda.”
She expressed appreciation for the “warm hospitality” extended to her diplomatic team and affirmed Ethiopia’s continued commitment to equitable resource sharing in the Nile Basin.
“#Ethiopia remains committed to the CFA principle of fair & equitable utilization of the Nile River,” she wrote. “#GERD completion without a decrease of water flow to the downstream countries stands as a testament to this commitment.”
The GERD, constructed on the Blue Nile near the Sudanese border, has long been a centerpiece of Ethiopian national development and a source of diplomatic tension, especially with Egypt and Sudan. However, Addis Ababa has consistently emphasized that the project will not reduce water flow downstream and is being managed with transparency and scientific oversight.
In a key gesture of reconciliation, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also publicly invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the inauguration during his speech to Ethiopia’s Parliament last month. The announcement was seen as an olive branch after years of bitter dispute over the Nile’s waters.
The GERD is expected to generate more than 6,400 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia’s energy capacity and positioning the country as a major power supplier in the region.
As Ethiopia begins issuing formal invitations to heads of state and key development partners, the GERD inauguration is shaping into a moment of pan-African significance one that blends engineering triumph, environmental resilience, and diplomatic recalibration.
The official date of the ceremony is expected to be announced soon.
