GERD Demonstrates Ethiopia’s Policy of Regional Cooperation: HPR

Addis Ababa, October 24, 2025 (ENA) - The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) has reaffirmed that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) stands as a tangible manifestation of Ethiopia’s foreign policy rooted in cooperation, mutual benefit, and shared regional growth.

Deputy Speaker of the HPR, Lomi Bedo, told ENA that the GERD is more than a national project designed to lift Ethiopians out of darkness through power generation;  it is a regional infrastructure linking neighboring countries through energy and sustainable development.

 

“Ethiopia’s foreign policy prioritizes its neighbors. We do not seek development in isolation; our goal is to safeguard our national interests while promoting collective regional prosperity,” she emphasized.

Lomi added that the GERD will serve as a catalyst for economic, political, and social integration across the Horn of Africa, reflecting Ethiopia’s commitment to mutual development and its belief that lasting progress can only be achieved through cooperation.

Aweke Amzaye, Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Water, Irrigation, Lowland Areas, and Environmental Development, highlighted that Ethiopia’s construction of the GERD is guided by the principle of fair and equitable use of natural resources without causing harm to others.

 

He dismissed claims that the dam would diminish the Nile’s flow as “baseless,” noting that the project is designed to generate hydroelectric power without consuming water.

“The colonial-era treaties that excluded nine Nile Basin countries and favored only two have now been challenged,” Aweke remarked, calling on all riparian nations to move beyond outdated agreements and embrace fairness and cooperation.

He further emphasized that the GERD embodies Ethiopia’s right to responsibly and equitably utilize its natural endowments for the benefit of its people and the region.

Fethi Mahdi, Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs, noted that major national projects like the GERD extend their benefits beyond Ethiopia’s borders.

 

She pointed out that Ethiopia is already exporting electricity to Kenya and providing clean drinking water to Djibouti, clear demonstrations of Ethiopia’s commitment to regional development through cooperation in energy, trade, and social welfare.

Similarly, Abebaw Desalew, Member of the Advisory Committee of the HPR, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s natural right to utilize the Nile River for its development, stating that the GERD represents the nation’s aspiration for shared prosperity among all riparian countries.

 

“The notion that the dam will reduce the Nile’s flow is purely political. Experts have consistently confirmed that the GERD will not affect downstream water availability,” he stressed.

Abebaw concluded that the GERD continues to symbolize Ethiopia’s vision of energy-driven transformation and regional partnership built on principles of fairness, cooperation, and mutual benefit.