Somalia’s President acclaims GERD as beacon of regional cooperation

Addis Ababa, September 9, 2025 (FMC) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday described the inauguration of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a historic milestone that underscores the shared responsibility of nations in the region to manage and benefit from common natural resources.

Addressing the gathering of leaders and dignitaries at the GERD site, President Mohamud emphasized that the event is not solely about the success of a single project but about fostering cooperation across borders.

“Water and natural resources are not confined by borders; they flow across them, binding our destinies and future together,” he said, highlighting the need for collaborative development.

President Mohamud noted that countries in the region rely on water resources differently—some for survival and water security, others for energy and growth—but all perspectives are valid. “Our challenge is not to deny the needs of any one of us, but to find ways to balance in the spirit of fairness and mutual respect,” he stated.

Reaffirming Somalia’s commitment to regional peace and integration, he pledged that his country stands ready to work with neighbors to promote dialogue, bridge differences, and build consensus in good faith.

“Our future depends on our ability to move beyond zero-sum thinking of the past. Upstream and downstream countries alike can only prosper when we act as a community,” he said.

President Mohamud also highlighted the broader benefits of the GERD, including electricity generation that can support not only Ethiopia but also neighboring nations, reinforcing the spirit of partnership and shared progress.

“Once no nation feels excluded and no nation bears the burden alone, it is in that spirit that we commemorate today’s inauguration of this great dam,” he said.

He concluded by framing the GERD as a symbol of collective ambition and a call for sustained trust and unity across the region: “May today remind us all that our real achievement will be in the partnership we sustain, the trust we nurture, and the unity we build for generations to come.”