Completion of GERD Marks Monumental Achievement, Defining Moment in Ethiopia’s Modern History: Ustaz Jamal

Addis Ababa, September 4, 2025 (ENA) -- Founder of the influential "Abay Kings" media outlet, Ustaz Jamal Bashir, has hailed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a history-changing project, noting its completion marks a monumental achievement for Ethiopia and a defining moment in the nation’s modern history.

In an interview with ENA, Ustaz Jamal highlighted that GERD is more than just a feat of engineering; it is a national symbol of resilience, unity, and ambition.

“This is not merely a dam,” he said. “It represents the collective determination, sacrifices, and aspirations of the Ethiopian people. It is the dawn of a new era where Ethiopia begins to defeat poverty and chart a course toward sustainable development.”

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently described the GERD’s completion as “The End of the Indigence Story,” a powerful phrase that encapsulates Ethiopia’s long struggle to harness its natural resources for national growth.

Echoing this sentiment, Ustaz Jamal called the dam a “victory forged by the sweat, blood, and financial sacrifices of ordinary Ethiopians.”

Ustaz Jamal also underlined that GERD not only fulfills Ethiopia’s legitimate right to use its natural water resources but also challenges outdated colonial-era agreements that disproportionately benefited downstream countries.

“Ethiopia has declared its sovereignty by rendering unjust treaties obsolete,” he stated, referencing historical Abbay water agreements that excluded Ethiopia despite its contribution of over 85 percent of the river’s flow.

He further noted that GERD has opened a new chapter of potential cooperation and mutual benefit among Basin countries.

“Through dialogue and regional integration, the dam can be a platform for collaboration rather than conflict,” he emphasized.

While GERD is expected to generate over 5,000 megawatts of electricity, making it Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant, Ustaz Jamal highlighted that the dam’s impact goes beyond energy production.

He pointed to its potential in promoting large-scale fish production and its role in bolstering Ethiopia’s economy by providing a stable energy supply for industry, agriculture, and domestic consumption.

The GERD is a catalyst for broader national development,” he said, adding that it serves as a model for future infrastructure projects. “This is just the beginning. Ethiopia must now focus on constructing additional dams and maximizing the benefits of its vast water resources.”

He also praised the extraordinary national unity that fueled the dam’s construction, achieved without significant foreign funding and through grassroots contributions.

“GERD has shown us what we can achieve when we stand together,” he said. “Now, we must channel that same spirit into other national endeavors.”

Concluding his remarks, Ustaz Jamal urged Ethiopians both at home and in the diaspora to continue supporting national development efforts with the same zeal that made GERD a reality.

“We have proven to the world that we are capable. Let us not stop here. The GERD is not the end; it is the beginning of Ethiopia’s renaissance in every sector.”