Addis Ababa, September 1, 2025 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has stressed that Ethiopia’s use of a small portion of the Abbay River through the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is neither wrong nor a crime.
In a discussion at the GERD site, the Prime Minister explained that the project does not take water permanently from downstream countries.
“It is not as if we have taken something that belongs to others,” he said, adding that the dam currently holds 74 billion cubic meters (74 trillion liters) of water while continuing to release flows downstream through turbines and spillways.
PM Abiy highlighted that some external observers have falsely accused Ethiopia of restricting water, though the dam is designed to manage flows properly and responsibly. “Even if we held more water than expected, the dam cannot stop the river’s journey,” he said.
The Prime Minister also clarified that the river is called Abbay in Ethiopia, and only becomes the Nile after reaching Khartoum in Sudan.
He emphasized that the GERD’s purpose is energy generation and regulated water release, not stopping or reducing the river’s flow to downstream nations.
Referring to Abbay’s historical flow, PM Abiy said the river has not ceased for thousands of years, and it is only natural for Ethiopia to use a small share of its resources.
“Since Abbay is enormous, great things are expected from it. What started small should grow,” he said, noting that Ethiopia plans to construct multiple dams along the Abbay river to produce energy while ensuring downstream rights are respected.
He concluded by noting that once the dam is opened for public visits, Ethiopians will be able to see firsthand the careful water management and understand the project’s purpose.