GERD stands as Ethiopia’s foundation of hope and unity, declares Mayor Adanech

Addis Ababa, September 14, 2025 (FMC) — Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebie has described the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as a “beacon of hope” and a cornerstone for Ethiopia’s future, during a massive celebration at Meskel Square marking the historic completion of the project.

Thousands of residents from all sub-cities of the capital gathered in a jubilant display of unity, singing, chanting, and carrying messages of pride to commemorate what many consider the nation’s most defining achievement in modern history.

The event drew top officials and dignitaries, including President Taye Atsekeselas, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Mayor Adanech, and other senior government figures.

In her address, Mayor Adanech emphasized that the GERD represents more than an engineering marvel; it is a lasting symbol of national unity, resilience, and determination. She congratulated Ethiopians for their unwavering role in bringing the project to fruition, calling it “a milestone written in one voice that will never be forgotten.”

The mayor expressed profound gratitude to those who dedicated their knowledge, sweat, and even lives at Mount Guba to make the dam a reality, affirming that their sacrifices deserve the highest honor.

She stressed that the dam’s success was achieved despite conspiracies, hostile campaigns, and covert pressures from both internal and external adversaries. Mayor Adanech credited Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s decisive leadership over the past seven years as pivotal in guiding the project to completion.

Adanech also lauded Ethiopia’s security institutions for their sacrifices in protecting the dam from external threats and highlighted the critical role of Ethiopian diplomats, who safeguarded the country’s interests when the issue was repeatedly brought before the United Nations Security Council in over 13 sessions.

She acknowledged the indispensable contributions of media outlets, social media activists, and Ethiopians at home and abroad, noting that their support was vital in countering disinformation and raising global awareness of the dam’s significance.

“Ethiopians have once again proven that by standing together, nothing is beyond our reach. No external pressure can divert us from our path,” she declared, affirming that the GERD is now both an eternal monument of Ethiopia’s resilience and a symbol of invincibility reshaping regional geopolitics.

The GERD was officially inaugurated on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in the presence of African and international leaders. Distinguished guests included Kenyan President William Ruto, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, and several other leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean, reflecting the project’s continental and global significance.